The Bombay High Court, on April 18, 2018, directed the police to conduct checks at three spots, where construction work for the Mumbai Metro III project is on, to ascertain if noise pollution norms were being violated. A division bench of justices AS Oka and Riyaz Chagla, gave the direction while hearing a batch of petitions, seeking strict implementation of the noise pollution rules.
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One of the petitioners, Sumaira Abdulali, told the court that noise levels due to the construction of the third metro line (Colaba-Andheri-Seepz corridor) were very high. Abdulali said she visited three spots – Churchgate, Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai and Mahim in the western part of the metropolis – and found that noise levels at the metro sites in these areas, were above the permissible limits. The bench then directed the police stations of the three spots mentioned by Abdulali, to visit the metro construction sites under their jurisdiction and ascertain the noise levels. “A report shall be filed by each of the police stations on their inspection, by next week,” the court ordered.
The government also filed an affidavit, in response to concerns raised by the high court on the last hearing, regarding protection of the identity of persons who lodge complaints of noise pollution. The affidavit said the government would, within a month, issue circulars to each police station, asking them not to divulge the name, phone number and other details of the complainant. The bench accepted the affidavit and fixed April 25, 2018, as the next date for hearing the petitions.
