Food Ban Enforced in Pune Auditoriums After Rat Scare at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha
Kothrud, 4th June 2025: Following a rat-related incident that disrupted a play at the Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has moved to enforce the ban on food inside public auditoriums strictly. The Cultural Department decided during a high-level meeting convened on Tuesday to address hygiene and safety concerns at municipal cultural venues.
The action comes after a female audience member was harassed by a rat during a stage performance on May 31, sparking public outrage and renewed scrutiny of cleanliness standards in public spaces.
Swift Administrative Response
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, who also serves as Kothrud MLA, stated at a press briefing that he would take up the matter with Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram to ensure long-term solutions are implemented.
A joint meeting was held with officials from the Cultural, Electrical, and Building departments, along with auditorium managers and representatives from the theatre community. Attendees included Deputy Commissioner Sunil Ballal, Auditorium Manager Rajesh Kamthe, and prominent theatre representatives like Mohan Kulkarni, Pravin Barve, and Sunil Mahajan of Samvad Pune.
Decisions and Measures Taken:
Food Ban Reinforced:
Drama troupe members will remind the audience not to bring food into the auditorium before every performance.
Enhanced Cleaning Protocols:
Auditoriums will undergo mandatory cleaning before and after each show.
Rodent Control Initiatives:
Rat traps (cages) will be installed across all municipal auditoriums.
Regular pest control operations will be scheduled to prevent infestations.
A Step Toward Safer Cultural Spaces
These actions aim to restore public confidence in Pune’s cultural venues by ensuring cleaner, rodent-free auditoriums. The PMC emphasized its commitment to maintaining hygienic, safe, and welcoming environments for theatre-goers and performers alike.
The incident has become a wake-up call for authorities as audience expectations grow for better-maintained public entertainment spaces in the city.
