A public seminar on Thane noise pollution, unauthorised mandaps and the legal framework governing public events will be held on Wednesday, September 9, at the Vidya Prasarak Mandal’s Thane TMC Law College premises on Chendani Bandar Road.
The programme, titled “Public Events, Unauthorised Mandaps and Noise Pollution – The Legal Framework”, is being organised by Thane TMC Law College and its Legal Aid Centre. The seminar will also include a public-awareness campaign on noise pollution during festivals and other public celebrations.
Ravindra Pajankar, secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, will deliver the inaugural address. Dr Mahesh Bedekar, who filed a petition in the Bombay High Court in 2010 seeking rules to control noise pollution, will speak on the reasons, outcomes and expectations related to the public interest litigation.
Senior inspector Bharat Chaudhary of Thane Nagar police station will address cooperation between the police machinery and citizens. Yasin Tadvi, head of the Thane Municipal Corporation’s disaster management department, will speak on disaster management and citizen cooperation. The programme will begin at 4 p.m.
The seminar comes amid renewed debate in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra over the use of DJs and sound systems during public festivals. In Pune, citizens recently held a march seeking a ban on DJs, while similar demands have emerged from other parts of the state.
The source report said that the Bombay High Court issued important orders in 2012 and 2016 following Dr Bedekar’s petition. It also noted that restrictions continue to face implementation challenges during several public celebrations.
Dr Vinod Wagh, vice-principal of the law college, will deliver the introductory remarks. Dr Shrividya Jayakumar, principal of the law college, will preside over the concluding session.
