Pune: Balewadi Residents File Petition In NGT Over Noise and Dust Pollution From Residential Project
Pune: Balewadi Residents File Petition In NGT Over Noise and Dust Pollution From Residential Project
The Western Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal on 8 April 2024 has admitted a case filed against renowned Pune-based developer ‘Vilas Javdekar’, which raised issues relating to persistent violations of the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000, as well as significant dust emissions arising out of construction of Vilas Javdekar’s new project ‘Portia Grande’, which is currently under construction in Balewadi, Pune.
The Petition has been filed by Amit Deep Singh, a local citizen of Pune, residing in a housing society which shares a boundary wall with Vilas Javdekar’s construction site. Singh’s Petition is seeking implementation of noise reduction and dust control mechanisms to ensure substantial reduction in the high noise levels and air pollution being generated due to the ongoing construction of the project. The petitioner is being represented by Advocate Maitreya Ghorpade. The further hearing is now scheduled to be held in mid September 2024.
The Petition states that Vilas Javdekar Developers have violated conditions of the Environmental Clearance granted for construction of the project, which specifically mandated that the noise levels arising from the project were to be maintained as per the existing residential area limits of 55dB as per the Noise Pollution Rules, 2000. Despite repeated communication with Vilas Javdekar on these issues, the developer has failed to control persistent generation of hazardous noise levels which have been in excess of 75-80dB for the past several months, and are likely to be causing adverse health impacts to nearly 150 families residing in close proximity to the construction site. The Petition further states that uncontrolled dust emissions have caused an increase in breathing problems for the locals residing in residential societies surrounding the construction site.A bench composed of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Dr. Vijay Kulkarni took cognizance of the various issues raised in the matter, and has accordingly issued notice to the State Government of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Vilas Javdekar.
In accordance to the hearing held recently, the MPCB officials had visited the society and also conducted a recording of the noise pollution caused by the developers project.
NGT vide Order dated 28.05.2024 constituted a Joint Committee comprising one member each of :- The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB); and The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) with the following directions: –
“The Committee is directed to visit the site after giving prior notice to the applicant/his counsel and submit a factual and action taken report, with respect to the pollution as alleged in the present Original Application and recommend the measures to be taken to mitigate the pollution, if at all, any pollution is found to be there, within two weeks. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) shall be the nodal agency for coordination and logistic support.”
Joint Committee members visited the site on 12.06.2024. Following members
were present during visit:- Prakash Pawar, Deputy Engineer, Building Permission Department, Pune Municipal Corporation, Kartikey Langote, Sub Regional Officer Pune 1, Maharashtra Pollution, Control Board, Vishwant Bote, Junior Engineer, Building Permission Department, Pune Municipal Corporation.
Dr Jayant Doke, Field Officer, Pune 1, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Amit Deep Singh, Applicant and Resident of Willows CHS and Kiran Khamkar, Sr. Manager Environment, Vilas Javdekar Eco Homes.
During visit, joint committee identified the major sources of Noise at construction site of Vilas Javdekar Eco Homes project activities like: 600
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- Concreting work
- Bars/steel cutting
- Scaffolding work
- Material handling
- Loading & unloading work.
Also, joint committee identified other sources for increase in Ambient Noise level as follows:
ANP project – finishing work, loading & unloading work, which is about 145 mtrs away from Applicant residence.
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Balmoral riverside – drilling and excavation work, loading & unloading work, which is about 130 mtrs away from Applicant residence.
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Due to transportation activities on the main road.
Considering the above sources, joint committee members have decided to carry out Noise monitoring at 05 locations during working & non-working day.
Accordingly, M. P. C. Board Officials carried out noise monitoring at 05 different locations, all around the project site and near Applicant’s residence, during the period of 13.06.2024 to 14.06.2024 (working day) and 16.06.2024 to 17.06.2024 (non-working day) for 24 hrs.
While Pune Pulse tried contacting the MPCB official, Kartikey Langote and Kiran Khamkar from Vilas Javadekar Developers went unanswered multiple times.
