Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has stepped into a late-night battle brewing in Bhendi Bazaar, where residents say relentless construction noise is robbing them of sleep. The court has now asked both the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to file reports on the issue.
Residents Say Sleep Is a Luxury
The case began after two residents filed a petition complaining that construction work in the area continues well past the allowed hours — from 10 pm to 6 am. According to them, the constant noise from cranes and debris removal often shoots up to 90 decibels, a level much higher than what’s allowed under the Noise Pollution Control Rules, 2000.
The petitioners even submitted video clips as proof. They told the court that while calling the police helpline at Dial 100 brings temporary relief, the noise always returns. They urged authorities to take strict, lasting measures instead of just stopping work for a short while.
On the other side, the developer and the trust linked to the project denied all allegations of night-time work.
Past Violations Come to Light
The case was heard by a division bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Sandesh Patil. During the hearing, a senior inspector from JJ Marg Police Station admitted that this wasn’t the first time the project had faced such complaints. In fact, the trust and two developers connected to it were earlier booked three times under IPC Section 268 for public nuisance.
Surprise Checks Coming Up
To tackle the problem, the police assured the court that an officer will now be posted for daily surprise checks at the construction site during night hours. If any illegal activity is caught, strict action will follow immediately.
Meanwhile, the MPCB told the court it will also send its officials for night inspections twice a week to keep tabs on noise levels.
The High Court has directed both the police and the MPCB to submit detailed reports on their promises. The matter will come up again on September 30.