Pune: The civic body is planning a policy to allocate space to dhol tasha pathaks (groups) after objections were raised that Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) properties and grounds are being used without permission for rehearsals, disturbing sports sessions.Sports enthusiasts and management teams said some groups do not manage their practice sessions and activities, and misuse civic properties. It creates a nuisance for local residents and disturbs sports sessions. Mandals have set up tents and pandals at popular grounds, like Sanas grounds and Nehru Stadium, where high-cost synthetic tracks are used for athletics and marathon training. Around 500-600 athletes practice various games daily at Sanas grounds alone.“Pathaks play loudly, disturbing us. We are not against the performance of dhol tasha, but they should practice such that it does not interfere with our activities,” said an enthusiast.Pathaks use grounds where aspirants of services like police, military and others practice for the recruitment processes. They have to concentrate and such loud sounds impact their focus. The timetable is defined for them and their prospects may get hampered, said sportspersons.Coaches said their students cannot even hear instructions, which are drowned by dhol tasha sounds. “Many state and national-level sports events are scheduled. Participants are not able to concentrate on practice due to the sound disturbance. A solution should be found at the earliest,” said a senior coach.“There is no specific process to permit such rehearsals on sports grounds. Many groups have applied to PMC, but all the applications are on hold. The administration is planning a policy to end this problem. It will provide dedicated spaces for pathaks, such that others are not disturbed,” said Santosh Tengle, head of PMC’s cultural and sports department.
