Finally,a law to check the noise one builds

In January,Andrade briefly visited her Mumbai flat,only to find it even more noisy,with at least neighbourhood buildings being redeveloped and a flat above hers having work done on the interiors.

She fled to Chennai again.

Sometimes the work would continue till 11 pm,she said from Chennai. “I have made several complaints to the BMC’s ward office,but no response.”

Now,Andrade and other suffering residents of Mumbai’s fast developing suburbs,such as Bandra,Khar Goregaon,Malad,can hope for some relief. The Centre last month amended the Noise Pollution Rules of 2000 to include “construction activities” in the ambit and suggested measures against such noise.

Construction is at a peak in Mumbai,with more than 100 buildings redeveloped in Bandra alone in 2008-2009,according to a survey by Aftab Siddiqui of the Bandra 33rd Road ALM. Yet,in the civic and state drives against noise pollution in residential and silence zones,there was no regulation on noise from construction.

Construction equipment like jack hammers,drills,cranes and cement mixers can raise up to 100 dB each; file drivers go a notch higher to 110 dB. The daytime permissible limits are 75 dB (industrial),65 dB (commercial),55 dB (residential) and 50 dB (silent zones).

In 2006,the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board had sponsored the publication of a study on noise levels at construction sites from 2003 to 2006. The study by noise activist Sumaira Abdulali,Awaaz Foundation,recorded noise above permissible limits in Bandra,Girgaon,Khar and Kemp’s Corner at different times of the day. The most common noise,she concluded,was from banging and breaking of concrete,trucks,generators and drilling.

The report said construction was being carried out “without any noise parameters specified by the authorities granting permission”,the equipment does not conform to permissible limits “and it is considered inevitable that neighbours and residents should have to bear the ill-effects of noise during any period of construction”.

After the Centre’s latest amendment,Abdulali said,“The facts we highlighted in 2006 are true to date. Hopefully,the amendment changes things.”

MPCB member secretary Mahesh Pathak said,“The BMC,or the authority granting construction permission,will now have to call for restrictions at the time of passing a construction proposal. We on our part will regularly monitor construction sites to check violation.”

An official at the BMC’s building proposal department said,“We haven’t been informed about the amendment. But if proper rules are framed and passed by a competent authority,we will follow them.”

NOISEMAKERS

How much

110 dB: A file driver at its noisiest

100db: Noisemaking capacity of jack hammer,drills,cranes,cement mixers

55 dB: Daytime limit for residential zones. Limits for other zones are 50 dB (silent),75 dB (industrial),65 dB (commercial)

How to

Awaaz recommendations to restrict construction noise:

* a guideline that BMC consider noise levels while issuing permission; this can later be integrated in Development Plan

* mandatory silencing equipment on construction machinery

* time-limit for construction activities

* ban on stone,aluminium cutting in all areas but industrial