Home / Environment / Pune Fails to Rein in High-Decibel Ganesh Celebrations Despite Monitoring Efforts
Pune Fails to Rein in High-Decibel Ganesh Celebrations Despite Monitoring Efforts
8 Sep
Summary
- Noise levels during Ganesh immersion in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad remain far above permissible limits
- Authorities unable to control high-decibel celebrations despite awareness drives and police directives
- Residents complain of DJs, loudspeakers, and dhol-tasha pathaks operating at high volume
As of September 8th, 2025, the noise levels during the Ganesh immersion celebrations in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have remained far above the permissible limits, according to data from the COEP Technological University (COEPTU). The authorities have once again failed to rein in the high-decibel festivities, despite awareness drives, monitoring exercises, and police directives.
On Laxmi Road, the city's main immersion route, the average noise level this year was recorded at 92.6 decibels, which is still considerably higher than the prescribed 55 decibels for residential areas. The COEPTU data also suggested that the average noise level in the central parts of the city was 94 decibels, while it was 129 decibels in 2023.
Furthermore, the on-ground situation was even worse, with residents complaining of DJs, loudspeakers, and dhol-tasha pathaks operating at high volume, especially in areas like Sinhagad Road, Hadapsar, and Senapati Bapat Road. The conditions were reportedly even worse in suburban areas such as Pimpri-Chinchwad and Baner, where citizens alleged that police complaints went largely unaddressed.
Despite repeated police meetings with mandal representatives, the use of loudspeaker systems and DJs continued unabated, with the mandals restarting the systems at full volume as soon as the police left the area.
