Loudspeakers may be used till midnight on 7 days: Ashish Shelar
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Pune: State cultural minister Ashish Shelar on Wednesday announced a relaxation in the use of loudspeakers which may be played till midnight for seven days in Pune during the upcoming Ganesh festival.
Shelar visited the city on Wednesday to meet district administration officials and discuss preparations for Ganeshotsav — which was accorded state festival status in the monsoon session of the assembly, recently.
Elected representatives and Ganesh mandals had been demanding an extension in the timing till when loudspeakers may be played during the festival. Shelar announced a relaxation till midnight for seven days, as against the five days allowed earlier, in Pune.
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According to the Supreme Court directions, use of loudspeakers is banned after 10 pm. The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules says state govts have the right to select 15 days in a year when a relaxation to use loudspeakers till midnight may be given by collectors for their respective districts.
After the meeting, Shelar said, "The district collector will meet representatives of important Ganesh mandals to decide the particular days when the extension will be applicable."
That apart, Shelar also said the state will provide funds to celebrate the festival on a grand scale. "Mandals will be encouraged to depict the success of Operation Sindoor, to promote Swadeshi and showcase the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through their decorations," he added.
The minister also said special attention would be given to Ganeshotsav in Pune — the city where Lokmanya Tilak started the festival on a community level. "The festival is celebrated in a traditional manner in Pune and is popular worldwide. We have decided to livestream activities of some important Ganesh temples and mandals so that devotees from across the world can feel connected," Shelar added.
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