NAGPUR: It is going to be a little noisier Ganeshotsav this year. Loudspeakers will be allowed up to midnight on four out of 10 days of festival instead of three days now. At present, loudspeakers must go silent at 10 pm. Collector Saurabh Rao and Sound Pollution Control Authority (police department) will decide on which four days the relaxation will apply by August 9. The state environment department issued the circular relaxing the norms for 15 days in a year including four days during Ganesh festival.

According to the circular dated July 31, sound systems will be allowed from 6 am to midnight for 15 days and 6 am to 10 pm on remaining days in a year. The department earmarked nine days and left the remaining for the district collector and Sound Pollution Control Authority to decide. The nine days include Shiv Jayanti, Eid-e-Milad, Dr Ambedkar jayanti, Maharashtra Day, Ashtami and Navami days during navratri festival, Diwali,Christmas and December 31.

Apart from four days during Ganeshotsav, district collector and Sound Pollution Control Authority can give relaxation on two other days in a year but they have to be devotional or cultural in nature. Rao told TOI decision would be taken after going through circular. "Earlier, the two days fixed were dussehra and dhamma chakra pravartan din and ram navami."

A police official told TOI, the state environment department had made some changes in the new circular. "Relaxation was allowed for two days during Diwali and three days during ganeshotsav since 2008. According to new norms, relaxation during ganeshotsav had been increased to four days and reduced to one day on diwali. Earlier, the environment department itself used to mention specific days during ganeshotsav. Relaxations were allowed on fifth day of ganeshotsav followed by gauri visarjan day and anant chaturdashi day. This time department left the days to be decide at district level," he said.

"Environment department has said the decision has to be taken a month before commencement of ganeshotsav. Festival will commence from September 9," he added.

Giving relaxations, the state environment department directed the authorities concerned to ensure level of pollution remained within permissible limits. "Norms will not be applicable to indoor places. Authorities have to ensure relaxations permitted only for 15 days in a year. Immediate action should be taken by the authorities in case of complaint related to sound pollution or violation of timings. Quarterly report also be submitted with the state government," said Dr BN Patil, director (environment) in the circular.

Source : Times of India