Jairam: No private helipads
The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), has submitted an affidavit to the Bombay high court stating that it does not support the setting up of private helipads in Mumbai.
The Maharashtra government had plans to give green signal to kick-start the construction of the 12 private helipads.
“The MoEF’s view is that while the noise rules do not specifically debar private helipads, in view of the high ambient noise levels in Mumbai during both the day and night, such new helipads are avoidable,” MoEF additional director R.N. Jindal has stated in the affidavit.
The affidavit was filed in response to a PIL filed by the city-based Awaaz Foundation, which had contended that the proposal for helipads would create noise pollution.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had conducted tests and found that the sound of helicopters taking off and landing was 100-120 decibels. This was double the norms for residential areas and silence zone areas of between 45 decibels and 55 decibels.
“The landing and take-off of a helicopter is associated with higher ambient noise levels and though it is momentary, it is termed as an ‘event’. Such events would result in increase in average ambient noise levels in the vicinity,” the affidavit further stated.
The Maharashtra government had issued a directive to the BMC to amend its construction rules to allow new residential and commercial buildings to have helipads.
“I have written to the Chief Minister pointing out that private helipad violates noise pollution rules,” Mr Ramesh said.
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