MUMBAI: Two developers and three workers have been penalised by police in a span of four days for violating guidelines on noise pollution. The action has been taken under the Bombay Police Act against ongoing construction work at Chembur and Andheri (W) following complaints from residents.Mumbai police chief Sanjay Pandey recently held meetings with developers where he had made it clear that construction activity would have to be limited to prescribed timings of 6am-10pm and decibel levels should not be higher than 65dB in residential areas. He had also instructed developers to place sound barriers at construction sites. Pandey, during his Facebook Live session, had warned builders that the next course of action would be FIRs under st-ricter Indian Penal Code sections if they did not comply.The latest violation was reported on Tuesday night at an under-construction building on Veera Desai Road in Andheri (W). “Local residents called up the police control room and complained that work was on beyond 10pm. Action was initiated against Transcon Developers under the Bombay Police Act,” said senior inspector Bandopant Bansode, Amboli police. The company did not offer a comment when TOI reached out.Earlier, police had initiated action against Mahavir Builders after residents complained of excessive noise from his construction site at Chembur. “On March 19, three workers with Mahavir Builders were penalised after they were found watering and cleaning the site beyond prescribed timings. The next day, action was initiated against the contractor and developer,” said DCP Sanjay Latkar, police spokesperson.Pandey has initiated a discussion with BMC to have no construction activity on Sundays and tweak the working hours on the other days to 7am-7pm.Activists said using construction equipment that helped maintain the prescribed limit of 65dB would be a relief for residents. “We have been complaining repeatedly about noise—as high as 95dB—at a construction site in Mahim for months now. I have made over a hundred calls to the police emergency number and penned seven applications to the zonal DCP,” said Dr Penelope Tong, a Mahim resident. “After police intervention, the developer offered to put up sound barriers only on the side facing my house. This won’t reduce the suffering of other residents,” Dr Tong said.Activist Sumaira Abdulali said police have powers to enforce decibel limits. “They can seize equipment, file FIRs, shut down work and insist on certain measures at construction sites that would minimise noise. Improving construction techniques would bring about long-lasting change. For instance, prefabr-icated building material can be used, besides good-quality sound barriers,” she added. Abdulali’s Awaaz Foundation and Mumbai Police jointly released a booklet to educate people on how to take noise readings using an app made by NEERI and how to complain against noise pollution.
