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Construction conundrum: Rise in complaints due to construction dust, noise in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, authorities issue stop work notices

Only a couple of project brochures (out of the pre-certified ones) mentioned lighting system automation, roof insulation and use of certified green construction materials, as mere add-ons to the technical specifications.

Construction site dust and noise pollution raise concerns in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)

The municipal corporations of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have been receiving a growing number of complaints regarding combined exposure to dust and noise at construction sites. In many cases, stop work notices have also been issued to construction site owners after inspections showed inadequate measures had been taken to curb rising levels of air and noise pollution.

“We have noted a rise in the number of complaints related to excessive dust from construction sites, some of the industries, and Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants… PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) and PCMC (Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) are accordingly notified and actions are taken. On our part from January 2024 till January this year a total of 16 show cause notices have been issued against some in the industrial sector, RMC plants and construction sites for failing to comply with environment regulations – especially related to air pollution,” J S Salunkhe, Regional Officer, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Pune told The Indian Express.

Directives for violations of Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESA) regulations typically include issuing warnings, levying fines, halting ongoing construction or activities within the ESA, initiating legal action, mandating environmental restoration, and conducting public awareness campaigns. “We have also issued 48 such directives last year,” Salunkhe said.

When contacted, Rajesh Bankar, superintendent engineer, PMC, said that recently they had issued stop-work notices to more than 200 construction site owners for the increasing dust pollution. “At least 45-50 have agreed to comply with the norms following which construction work was allowed,” Bankar told The Indian Express.

At the PCMC, too, authorities have received as many as 289 complaints related to poor air quality due to increasing dust pollution and 165 for excessive noise at construction sites. Sanjay Kulkarni, chief engineer, PCMC, said that they have taken action by serving stop-work notices to as many as 58 construction sites for dust pollution and 19 for causing noise pollution. The civic body has levied fines to the tune of an approximate Rs 7-8 lakh from the site owners.

“We get complaints from fringe areas like Moshi, Wakad and Punawale, among others,” Kulkarni said.

Inspections by PMC’s building permission department have shown blatant violations of norms like installing sprinklers, using GI sheets, and green nets around construction sites. Aundh, Baner, Hinjewadi-Phase 3, Katraj are among the various areas under PMC that have major construction sites.

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Why ‘green’ buildings can be a win-win

Pune has been witnessing the redevelopments of old buildings and new project developments across the city. As per Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR) of Maharashtra, developers get incentives for constructing green buildings like 3 per cent, 5 per cent or 7 per cent additional Floor Space Index based on the rating achieved at pre-certification stage. Consumers, on the other hand, also stand to benefit financially through lower interest rates on home loans, tax rebates, and savings on electricity bills. “Moreover, proliferation of green buildings will reduce the environmental impact of the residential sector leading to a win-win for everybody,” Shweta Kulkarni, Fellow, Prayas Energy Group, said.

“Our visual perception suggested that most of these buildings are not using sustainable materials for construction and rarely did we spot a certified green building,” Kulkarni said, adding that they also surveyed about 40 residential projects showcased in the Pune property expo organised by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India in January this year. “About 10 per cent of the projects they assessed were Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) pre-certified at gold or platinum levels. The advertisement material for these projects only had the IGBC logo with no information on the green features planned,” she added. Only a couple of project brochures (out of the pre-certified ones) mentioned lighting system automation, roof insulation and use of certified green construction materials, as mere add-ons to the technical specifications.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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