New Delhi, Sep 12 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed an order issued by the National Green Tribunal (Western Zone) Bench which restricted the number of troupe members playing musical instruments to 30 during Ganpati Visarjan Processions in Pune.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra granted an interim stay on the order of NGT which had directed that the total number of drum beaters and players of Tasha and Zanj in each troupe during the Procession in Pune shall not exceed 30.
The Bench heard the plea after an urgent mentioning was made as the Ganpati Visarjan is scheduled for September 17.
Advocate Amit Pai, who filed an appeal against the NGT order, contended that the Ganesh festival has a deep cultural significance for Pune.
Pai contented that the appellants are not aggrieved by the other directions issued by the NGT for controlling noise pollution during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
The NGT had directed to restrict the total number of Dhol, Tasha and Zanj players in each groups to only 30 with real time monitoring of noise pollution around each Ganesh pandal and initiating criminal proceedings against the violators.
The NGT bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Dr Vijay Kulkarni in its order passed on August 30 issued the directions to the MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) to carry out real time noise monitoring at minimum 3 locations in/near each Ganapati Mandal.
The NGT had directed that during Visarjan processions MPCB shall carry out real time noise monitoring at major traffic junctions in consultation with police department, along with installing appropriately sized digital display system to reflect real time noise pollutions.
The NGT order further directed the police department that they should in consultation with MPCB decide the total capacity of loud speakers to be allowed in each Ganesh Mandal based on the location, considering proximity to school/hospital and residential complexes.
