Officials not doing charity, must enforce noise, air pollution norms: Bombay HC raps BMC

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday pulled up Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials over their failure to ensure compliance with noise and air pollution norms at construction sites, saying they were "not doing charity" by enforcing the rules and must ensure there are no violations anywhere.

They are not doing charity. They have to ensure that the norms are followed in toto," a bench of Chief Justice MC Tripathi and Justice Advait M Sethna said, stressing that monitoring of pollution norms must be carried out routinely across Mumbai and not be limited to action against individual builders.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Mahim resident Dr Ashok Pathare, who complained of persistent construction noise at a site adjoining his residence. Pathare told the court that noise pollution was only part of his problem, as he had spent more than 60 days approaching different departments and authorities, which kept passing the responsibility without ensuring any reduction in noise levels.

In every area, the noise pollution norms have to be followed. Action against one builder will not suffice. This has to be monitored in every area," the bench observed.