Noise pollution complaint: No NGT red flag for Chennai Metro Rail works in Kilpauk

CHENNAI: The southern bench of National Green Tribunal(NGT) has refused to stop the construction of a Chennai Metro Rail Station on Balfour Road in Kilpauk and directed a resident, who filed a petition against noise pollution caused by the construction, to approach appropriate authorities.

As per the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the ‘authority’ is defined as a district magistrate, police commissioner or any other officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police designated for the maintenance of the ambient air quality standards. Further, the bench comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati instructed the appropriate authority to consider the plaint if the applicant (resident) makes any.

Lalit Kumar Shah, the applicant, complained that his building was located 2-3 metres from the CMRL’s construction site on Balfour Road. He alleged that the noise level of the construction of the underground station was more than 200 decibels during the day, and at night, it was much more. According to the complaint, the construction was being carried out in a ‘silent zone’ area.

He also alleged that the distance between the station at Purasawalkam High Road and Balfour Road was only less than 750 metres. Therefore, the station should not be constructed. Also, any noise-creating activity must not be permitted on Balfour Road, as it’s a predominantly a residential area and also a ‘silent zone’ due to the location of educational institutions, places of worship, hospital and clinics. As the huge machinery is used, it was compulsory and mandatory to use acoustic barriers, the petition added.

Meanwhile, the contractor, Tata Project, constructing the station stated that all the requisite permissions, permits and the approvals were obtained as per the terms of the contract so as to begin the activities at the project site.

On the other hand, CMRL submitted that the contractor was not using trench cutters and other tools such as sledgehammers at night. “Even when they are used, they are all within the permissible limit. The dust pollution is also under control as the project proponent is sprinkling water every day,” the CMRL said.