Punekars Demand Ban On Loud DJs At PMC

On Sunday, a group of citizens in Pune marched to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to demand a ban on loud DJs and sound systems during festivals. The protest was sparked by the assault of citizen activist Vidyanand Bapat, who was attacked on September 3 while speaking against high-decibel DJs during festivals.

The protest, organised under the banner of the ‘Loudspeaker-Virodhi Punekar Manch’, aimed to bring attention to the issue of excessive noise during festivals and public celebrations. The protesters demanded that noise regulations be enforced uniformly during all religious festivals and processions, rather than targeting any particular community or festival.

The demands included restrictions on DJs, loudspeakers, plasma and pressure-mid systems, excessive bass systems and other equipment capable of producing high-decibel sound. The protesters argued that continuous exposure to extremely loud sound can affect hearing and cause headaches, sleep disturbance, stress and discomfort, particularly among senior citizens, children and people with existing health problems.

Pratham Singwhal, a protester, said that the demand is not against any particular festival or religion, but rather a call for festivals to be celebrated in a way that does not disturb the health, sleep and peace of residents. Kunal More, another protestor, said that the government should take preventive action and inspect sound systems beforehand to stop violations immediately.

The protesters also condemned the assault on Bapat, saying that disagreement over his views could not justify violence. Advocate Sujata Kulkarni, who participated in the protest, said that citizens should be able to raise legitimate concerns without being threatened or assaulted.

The protest marked a further escalation of the campaign that Bapat had helped bring to the centre of Pune’s Ganeshotsav debate. Bapat had first raised objections to DJs, loudspeakers and high-decibel sound systems at a PMC meeting on August 24.

The protesters asked why Pune should not follow cities such as Nagpur and Solapur in restricting high-decibel sound. They argued that the same rules must apply to every religious and political procession, without exception.

In recent years, the issue of noise pollution has become a major concern in Pune, particularly during festivals and public celebrations. The protesters hope that their demands will be heard and that the PMC will take action to regulate noise levels during festivals.

The protest was peaceful and saw a significant turnout of citizens, including students, professionals and senior citizens. The protesters were determined to make their voices heard and to bring about a change in the way festivals are celebrated in Pune.

The issue of noise pollution is not limited to Pune, but is a concern that affects many cities across India. The protesters hope that their campaign will inspire other cities to take action and regulate noise levels during festivals.

In conclusion, the protest in Pune was a call for action against excessive noise during festivals and public celebrations. The protesters demanded that noise regulations be enforced uniformly and that the government take preventive action to stop violations immediately. The issue of noise pollution is a major concern that affects the health, sleep and peace of residents, and it is hoped that the PMC will take action to address this issue.