Pune: With the city preparing for Ganesh festival, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will deploy teams in nearly 200 busy junctions in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad to keep a check on noise levels on all the days of the festivities.Monitoring will be done from 7am to 7am on these days, with the upper limit fixed at the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards decided earlier. Any violations will be flagged to the police. Last year’s data shows why the watch is crucial — areas like Shivajinagar, Shaniwar Peth, Laxmi Road and Mahatma Phule Mandai, among others, recorded over 80-90 decibels on several occasions, much higher than the permissible limit.Officials said the focus this year is on ensuring noise levels during processions stay within the limits so that celebrations don’t turn into a health hazard for residents. The monitoring points also include fixed locations where noise levels are being monitored since many years: Shivajinagar, Laxmi road ,Shaniwar peth, Yerawada, Hadapsar, MG road, Karve Road, Swargate, among others.An MPCB official said, “Noise levels will be tracked at approximately 200 locations this year, similar to last year. Certain points such as Shivajinagar, Karve Road, Swargate, Shaniwar Peth, Laxmi Road, Kothrud, Hadapsar, Koregaon Park, Khadki, MG Road, University Road Chowk, Aundh Parihar Chowk and Vishrantwadi are fixed sites that are always monitored during Ganeshotsav. But following the directions issued last year, the monitoring exercise now covers around 200 locations across Pune.“He added that last year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the MPCB to carry out real-time monitoring at all pandals throughout the 10-day festival, especially on immersion day. The board was also asked to display decibel levels on digital boards at major junctions, put up awareness banners, and share daily readings near pandals. “This year, too, the monitoring will be done in coordination with consultants, PMC and the police, using sound level meters,” he said.The official clarified that unlike last year when a flat cap of 80 decibels was imposed, noise limits are now being followed as per CPCB standards.The CPCB has prescribed different noise limits for various zones: 75 decibels (dB) during the day and 70 decibels at night in industrial areas; 65 dB (day) and 55 dB (night) in commercial areas; 55 dB (day) and 45 dB (night) in residential areas. The strictest norms apply to silent zones such as hospitals, schools and courts, where the limit is 50 dB during the day and 40 dB at night.Another MPCB official said, “Any mandal found flouting the prescribed noise norms will face police action. The penal provisions include fines as well as imprisonment of up to one year.”
