Will MMRCL be subjected to penal action, HC asks govt

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Maharashtra government to clarify if it would initiate action against the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) for violating the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000. The HC has asked the government to spell out its decision on an affidavit.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla issued the directions after finding an ‘inconsistency’ in the readings of noise levels at three spots, where construction work of Metro III is underway. The judges found an inconsistency in the readings provided by the government as against the ones submitted by Awaaz Foundation, the petitioner in the case.

According to Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz Foundation, the decibel levels of noise emanating from construction work in Mahim, Cuffe Parade and Churchgate was way higher than the permissible limits. Exactly contrary to Sumaira’s readings were the government’s recordings. The government represented by advocate Manish Pabale told the judges that the police follows a ‘standard’ method in recording noise levels in such cases. He said the police measures the noise levels more than two times and then an average of the same is taken on record. Justice Oka noted the inconsistency and said, “We want the government to file an affidavit stating the recordings of noise levels. Also, we want a clarification as to if the government finds there is any violation of the norms. If yes, then we want to know if the government proposes to initiate action against the MMRCL.”