Hundreds of Punekars marched from Balgandharva Chowk to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Sunday, demanding a ban on high-decibel sound systems during public festivals and stricter action against noise pollution.
The march organised by the ‘Loudspeaker-Virodhi Punekar Manch’ was the third citizens’ protest over excessive noise in Pune within a week, with the first two demonstrations held last Sunday. However, Bapat stayed away from the latest march maintaining that the campaign should remain focused on the larger cause and should not become a movement in support of him following the assault. Punekars from across the city gathered at Balgandharva Chowk carrying placards against high-volume DJs and loudspeaker systems. “There is a need for strict control.
The protesters said that their campaign is not directed against any particular festival or community but against excessive and unauthorised noise at all public events. Deepika Gajanan of Sadashiv Peth said that prolonged noise particularly affects senior citizens, children and people with health conditions. Excessive noise should not be allowed during festivals,” she said.
The protest also came days after activist Vidyanand Bapat, who has been campaigning against the use of loudspeakers and DJs during Ganeshotsav, was allegedly attacked on Thursday.
