Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni appearing for the state said the noise levels due to the construction of the Metro rail line, would not go up substantially than it is at present.
The state government on Monday informed the Bombay High Court, that it was willing to start a toll-free helpline number and an email address where residents of Cuffe Parade and other parts of South Mumbai can lodge complaints of noise pollution if any during the construction of the Metro 3, Railway line.
Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni appearing for the state said the noise levels due to the construction of the Metro rail line, would not go up substantially than it is at present. To which the bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Riyaz Chagla suggested that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), should carry out noise mapping in South Mumbai area, during night time and submit a report on the present decibel level.
It asked the MPCB advocate to appear before the court on the next date of hearing, July 11, and inform of the mechanism it has to carry out noise mapping. During the hearing of a plea filed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited seeking permission to carry out work for 24 hours, directions were given to complete the underground metro construction work within eighteen months.
The state has also claimed that Metro construction is governed under the Metro Railway Act, which is a special enactment, and thus a general enactment like the Environment Act would not be applicable. Thus, it need not follow the provisions of the Noise Pollution Act.
Advocate Robin Jaisinghani, a resident of Cuffe Parade, who has opposed the plea said, "Our stand is that Environment Act is a general act and has to prevail over other acts including the Metro rail. Thus the authority will have to ensure that noise levels are not beyond permissible limits during the day and no work should be carried out at night."
NOISE MAPPING
- Bombay High Court suggested that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board should carry out noise mapping in South Mumbai, during night and submit a report on the present decibel level
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