PUNE: Pune mayor Manjusha Nagpure on Wednesday directed the civic administration to provide designated spaces and timely permissions for dhol-tasha groups to practise ahead of the upcoming Ganeshotsav, officials said.
Nagpure said the traditional percussion groups are an important part of Pune’s cultural identity, with thousands of young men and women participating in them. She urged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to make suitable open spaces available without affecting traffic or inconveniencing residents.
She suggested that civic-owned open grounds and other suitable locations, including riverbed areas where permitted, be considered for practice sessions. She also called for a single-window system, online or offline, so groups do not have to approach multiple civic departments for permissions.
The administration has also been asked to provide temporary lighting, sanitation and drinking water facilities at practice venues, wherever required.
At the same time, Nagpure stressed that groups must comply with noise pollution norms, permitted practice hours and traffic regulations. She asked the civic administration to coordinate with the police and issue clear guidelines to ensure practice sessions do not inconvenience residents.
“Promoting Pune’s dhol-tasha tradition is our collective responsibility. Groups that practise while following the rules should receive the necessary facilities and permissions without unnecessary hurdles. The concerned departments should issue the required directions immediately,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}“Promoting Pune’s dhol-tasha tradition is our collective responsibility. Groups that practise while following the rules should receive the necessary facilities and permissions without unnecessary hurdles. The concerned departments should issue the required directions immediately,” she said.
{{/usCountry}}The mayor said the aim was to provide safe and organised practice facilities while preserving Pune’s long-standing Ganeshotsav tradition. Officials said the civic administration has been urged to act before the festival so authorised dhol-tasha groups can complete their practice in a regulated manner.
Pune-based environmental and civic groups have also urged the civic administration and police to ensure strict enforcement of noise pollution norms during the festival. Fifteen NGOs have submitted a representation to the Pune police commissioner seeking implementation of directions issued by the Bombay High Court on permissible noise levels in residential and commercial areas. The groups said excessive noise during festivals can affect people’s health and called on the police to act against violations. They have also urged the mayor and leaders of all political groups in the Pune Municipal Corporation to take the initiative for a DJ-free Ganeshotsav in Pune this year, citing Solapur’s DJ-free Ganeshotsav last year as an example, said Vivek Velankar, president of Nisarg Sevak Sanstha, Pune.