The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai Police and other enforcement agencies to strengthen surveillance of construction sites and ensure strict compliance with air and noise pollution regulations across the city.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna criticised authorities for failing to enforce existing pollution-control rules effectively. The court emphasised that ensuring compliance was a statutory obligation and that action against individual developers would not be sufficient. Instead, inspections must be conducted regularly across all localities.
The bench clarified that it was not advocating a complete suspension of construction activities but maintained that urban development should not compromise public health. It also said construction permissions should be granted only after developers submit written undertakings promising adherence to prescribed pollution norms.
Mahim Resident Approaches High Court
The directions came while hearing a petition filed by Dr Ashok Pathare, a Mahim resident who complained about excessive construction noise from a neighbouring project. He told the court that he had spent over 60 days approaching different government departments, but authorities continued shifting responsibility without resolving the issue.
Although the BMC had imposed conditions covering piling activities, public nuisance and noise-control measures, Pathare alleged that the developer had failed to follow them.
Citing police panchnamas, he claimed that noise levels had exceeded 100 decibels, against the permissible daytime limit of 55 decibels in residential areas.
Petition Raises Health Concerns
Pathare also highlighted the impact on his family, claiming that he had suffered permanent partial hearing loss, while his son, who has autism spectrum disorder, experienced considerable distress because of the continuous noise.
The High Court instructed senior civic officials, police personnel and other agencies to undertake routine inspections and initiate appropriate action against violators. It also stressed the need to reduce air, noise and light pollution, urging citizens to report violations.
The bench reiterated that residents should not suffer because authorities fail to enforce existing regulations.
Source: News 18
