The court, instead, gave the state government four weeks time to file an affidavit on the condition of silence zones demarcated by local governing bodies in different parts of the state.
The Bombay high court on Thursday declined to give any injunction to construction of helipads in private buildings in the city.
The court, instead, gave the state government four weeks time to file an affidavit on the condition of silence zones demarcated by local governing bodies in different parts of the state.
The division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice SC Dharmadhikari also asked the state to produce a status report on the 576 decibel metres, which the government had proposed to install across the state.
The government was asked to send a reminder to all local governing bodies to demarcate silence zones.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Awaaz Foundation and social activist Sumaira Abdulali.
The petitioners had contended that construction of helipads in private buildings will increase the present noise levels in the city.
Even the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) had filed an affidavit in the court, stating that it does not support new helipads in Mumbai as the ambient noise level in the city during day and night is already high.
The petitioners pointed out that Mumbai does not have a noise plan, which can be used to demarcate all silence zones in the city.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has also indicated that the helicopters may exceed the present sound levels in Mumbai.
Government counsel Vinay Sonpal, however, argued that helicopters are already flying over the city and they will need to land somewhere.
A proper space has to be provided for these helicopters to land, said Sonpal. The petitioners said that there could be a common helipad in the city for helicopters to land instead of 12 that the government has proposed.
The court, while denying to give any order on the helipad issue, asked for a proactive action from the police department to spread awareness about sound pollution in the city.
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