Thane | September 10, 2026 — Thane Collector Dr Shrikrishna Panchal has directed Ganesh mandals and residents to avoid DJs during Ganeshotsav and comply strictly with noise-pollution regulations, according to a report by Loksatta. The district administration has also asked organisers to ensure that celebrations do not cause noise pollution near hospitals, schools and colleges.
The directions were issued during a law-and-order review meeting held at the committee hall of the Collector’s office in Thane. Representatives of government departments, the police administration, Ganesh mandals and citizens were asked to coordinate with one another to ensure that the festival is conducted peacefully, safely and with public participation.
The administration’s instructions place particular emphasis on controlling amplified sound during the festival period. Collector Panchal directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to provide the necessary guidance on noise pollution to Ganesh mandals and citizens. He also asked the board to conduct a broad public-awareness campaign on noise pollution every day throughout the festival.
Under the schedule outlined at the meeting, loudspeakers may be used until midnight on September 15, 18, 19 and 25. On all other days, the permitted use of loudspeakers will remain limited to 10 p.m., the report said. The directions distinguish between the four dates on which additional time has been permitted and the normal nightly restriction applicable on the remaining days.
The Collector’s office has linked the sound-control instructions to the broader objective of conducting Ganeshotsav in a peaceful and secure environment. The appeal to avoid DJs applies alongside the requirement to follow noise-pollution rules and to protect sensitive locations from excessive sound. Hospitals, schools and colleges have been specifically identified as areas requiring special care.
The meeting also placed responsibility on several groups to maintain coordination during the celebrations. Government departments, police personnel, festival organisers and citizens were asked to work together as the festival proceeds. The district administration’s directions therefore cover both enforcement-related coordination and public communication on permitted loudspeaker timings.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board is expected to communicate the applicable guidance to Ganesh mandals and residents and run the awareness campaign during the festival. Loudspeaker use will continue until midnight on September 15, 18, 19 and 25, while the 10 p.m. limit will apply on the remaining festival days, according to the directions reported by Loksatta.
