Mumbai: Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has been asked by Bombay High Court what measures have they taken to safeguard to ensure that the citizens’ constitutional right to a pollution-free environment is protected. This protection also includes safeguarding from noise pollution as well.
MMRC which is facing flake for its construction work going on for Mumbai metro line 3, will have to now furnish answers. Bombay HC has sought answers from MMRC over their initiative to safeguard citizen’s right during its construction work.
MMRCL had filed an application seeking modification to earlier order by the HC that has put a stay on work going on at Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai in the night. A division bench of Justices AS Oka and Riyaz Chagla was hearing the application filed by MMRCL.
In its application, the MMRCL has pointed out that it had to carry out tunnel boring and excavation work cannot be stopped once it is started.
Get the Daily Metro & Rail Brief
Join 125,000+ metro and rail professionals. Project updates, new tenders and contract awards from across India, in your inbox every day.
Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhkoni, representing MMRCL communicated that the work will be carried out for 18 months. He added that the excavation work will not lead to generating lot of noise. The noise would only be of trucks that would be transporting excavated soil, added Kumbhkoni.
Kumbhkoni added that the Environment Protection Act and the Noise Pollution Rules did are not relevant to the metro rail project.
The court, however, said whether they carry out work during the day or night, the MMRCL should abide by the Noise Pollution Rules.
Justice Oka quoting Article 21 of the Constitution of India that states that a person a person has the right to a pollution-free environment, and that includes noise pollution. What measures have MMRCL taken to ensure citizen’s right are protected.
Senior counsel Ranjit Kumar, representing Larsen and Toubro, who are the contractors of the project, communicated to the court that the metro work would not make additional noise than current levels in Cuffe Parade.
The 33-kilometre underground Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro line 3 project, it will be connecting Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai to the SEEPZ and the international airport in the city’s Andheri suburb.
The court said it would continue hearing the matter on Monday.
Project Overview