Cameras, noise meters to help enforce SC’s rules

MUMBAI: With the Supreme Court having restricted the height of human pyramids for dahi handi to 20 feet and banned children below 18 from participating, the Mumbai

MUMBAI: With the Supreme Court having restricted the height of human pyramids for dahi handi to 20 feet and banned children below 18 from participating, the Mumbai police will videograph all dahi handi venues this year. There are around 4,000 dahi handi organisers in the city, of which around 1,000 are considered major players.

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Ashok Dudhe, deputy police commissioner, said, “We have already given organisers conditional permission with clauses mentioning strict action if they fail to follow the Supreme Court’s orders. However, all police stations have also been asked keep an eye on dahi handi celebrations in their jurisdictions.”

The policemen will videograph revellers who participate in forming human pyramids and halt celebrations if a particular mandal flouts the new rules. Further action will follow, an official said.

The police first began recording dahi handi events on video in 2014.

Officials said that apart from ensuring that pyramid height and age restrictions are complied with, the police will also check noise levels at all pandals with the help of decibel meters. “The police will also take action if noise levels go above permissible limits. These things have already been communicated with organisers, leaving no room for surprises later,” added Dudhe.

The police have also issued legal notices to some mandals that have poor track records and blatant violated rules in 2015. All police stations had carried out a similar exercise last year and drawn up a list of organisers who did not pay heed to the rules. Police officials said, however, that the exact number of mandals that have been issued notices is not known.

The police in the central Mumbai have also issued specific notices to several MNS workers, warning them not to violate the Supreme Court’s guidelines.