‘Noise at Metro sites in south Mumbai exceeds safe levels, MMRCL to blame’

Noise levels around Metro construction sites in south Mumbai “exceed the prescribed limits thanks to the apathetic approach of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL)”, the National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) told the Bombay high court (HC) on Friday.

The report, filed in compliance with the earlier directions of the HC while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), said eight days of monitoring found the average noise ambient levels around proposed Cuffe Parade station on Metro-3 were 68.5decibels (dB) to 91.9dB during the day and between 60.3dB and 83.4dB at night. Under the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, the ambient standard for noise is 55dB during the day (6am to 10pm) and 45dB at night.

The PIL was filed by advocate Robin Jaisinghani, a resident of Dalamal Park, complaining the work was being carried out in violation of the Noise Pollution Rules and August 2016 judgment of the high court that stated that noise-emanating equipment cannot be used in residential areas at night (between 10pm and 6am).

Acting on the PIL, the court directed the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to monitor noise level at the sites, who then entrusted the work to NEERI.

NEERI attributed the high noise levels to MMRCL’s failure in taking mitigating measures such as putting noise barriers around sites, using sound mufflers, acoustic enclosures around noise making-equipment and machines, which were part of its initial proposal. “Noise barriers were found only at a few places, such as Dalamal Park Building and Captain Prakash Pethe Marg,” the report said.

First Published: Aug 11, 2018 00:39 IST