Pune Police Issue Notices to Over 200 Ganesh Mandals for Noise Norm Violations During Immersion Procession
Pune, 26th November 2025: More than 200 Ganesh mandals across the city are now under police scrutiny after being served formal notices for allegedly breaching Supreme Court–mandated noise pollution limits during this year’s Ganesh visarjan. The action comes after the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and police teams submitted a consolidated report recording multiple instances of excessive noise levels.
The notices direct the mandals to explain within seven days why criminal proceedings should not be initiated against them. Authorities have invoked Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which provides for imprisonment of up to five years and fines reaching ₹1 lakh for violations of noise pollution rules.
In addition, mandals must submit documents such as:
Permission letters issued by police
Details of sound system contractors
Copies of procession permits
Those who fail to respond have been warned that offences under Maharashtra Police Act Section 136 and the Environment Protection Act will be registered immediately. Mandals have also been instructed to appear before the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of their respective zones.
Despite Prior Warnings, High-Decibel Speakers Used Widely
The Ganesh immersion procession, held on September 6 and concluding late on September 7, stretched for more than 32 hours. Ahead of the event, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had appealed to mandals to avoid high-powered loudspeakers and glare-intensive lighting systems.
However, monitoring teams observed widespread use of high-decibel sound systems and bright spotlights. Several residents lodged complaints about excessive noise levels, though the procession itself remained largely peaceful, with only a few theft cases reported.
Noise Levels Recorded With Monitoring Equipment
During the immersion, MPCB officials and police personnel deployed calibrated sound monitoring devices to assess on-ground noise levels. Their findings confirmed that numerous mandals exceeded permissible limits, prompting the latest round of notices.
The police are now evaluating the responses submitted by mandals before initiating further legal steps.
