Vashi police ensure low noise Ganesh festival celebrations

Mumbai, Sep 9 (PTI) At a time when Ganesh festival hasbecome synonymous with rising noise levels, police in Vashiarea of adjoining Navi Mumbai have successfully implemented acampaign to ensure that the noise level remains withinpermitted level during the 10-day festivity. "We conducted various meetings of Ganesh mandal members,committee members of religious institutions, peace committees,corporators and political leaders and briefed them about thelegal provisions and recent High Court orders," Senior PoliceInspector of Vashi police station, Ajaykumar Landge said. "We requested all to keep the loudspeaker volume underpermitted level," the police official told PTI. "One such zonal-level meeting was addressed by NaviMumbai CP Hemant Nagrale and DCP Prashant Khaire, at theVishnudas Bhave auditorium," he said. "Vashi police sent the High Court order to residents inthe area on various WhatsApp groups and made a similarrequest. "We took ambient readings of noise levels at differenttimings. Our team visited all Ganesh mandals with noise levelmeter, took measurements and got the volume of loud speakersadjusted within permissible limits," he said. Police ensured that no Ganesh pandal was erected onroads, Landge said. "There are no kaman (arch), banners and hoardings onroads in Vashi, which has helped in smooth flow of traffic,"he said, adding the resultant smooth traffic flow also helpedin keeping the noise level in control. "We took readings even during the immersion processionsand got the volume of musical instruments adjusted withinpermissible level," he said. Ganesh mandal members and residents of Vashi haveresponded positively, and are respecting the law and the HighCourt orders, Landge said. Some Ganesh mandals have also put banners appealing theGanesh bhakts/ public to respect the law and follow policedirectives, he said. A public awareness rally by students of Scouts and Guidesis planned on the last day of the festival, when the immersionof 10-day old idols takes place. The rally will go to all Ganesh mandals in Vashi areawhere students will explain benefits of celebrating with lownoise levels, the officer added. PTI VT GKSRYSDM