Noise complaints: Mumbai lawyer files contempt petitions against cops, collector, pollution board

Kandivli resident and lawyer Reena Richard filed a contempt petition against the Mumbai police, the suburban collector and the state pollution board for neglecting 87 complaints filed by her in six years.

Alleging noise pollution from two mosques, Kandivli resident and lawyer Reena Richard filed a contempt petition against the Mumbai police, the suburban collector and the state pollution board for neglecting 87 complaints filed by her in six years.

The matter was heard by the Bombay high court (HC) on Wednesday wherein both the petitioner and respondents submitted affidavits. The matter will be heard next on August 22.

The lawyer’s main prayer to the high court includes holding the three bodies (respondents) responsible for the stress faced by her family. “Officers that have not responded to my complaints need to be held accountable and they should be imprisoned for six months for violating court orders,” she said.

Resident of NG Suncity phase II in Thakur village, Richard lives with her 71-year-old mother, husband and daughter.

She said that noise levels from six loudspeakers were breaching permissible limits almost every night. “Noise can be heard through the night till 6am in the morning at times,” she said adding over a hundred telephonic complaints were filed with the Samta Nagar police station apart from the 87 written complaints.

“Noise levels from the mosques are much above 100 decibels (dB),” she said. “It has become a health hazard for my family as my mother and my daughter do not get sleep. Our windows start vibrating because of the noise and the police have been least bothered.”

According to noise rules, noise levels at residential areas and silence zones should not exceed 50dB and 50dB during the day and 45dB and 40dB in the night, respectively.

She said the first mosque nearher residence and the other, located 20m away, have not taken any permissions from the police. “Video evidence as well decibel readings of the violations have been attached with my petition, which I will produce during the next hearing,” said Richard.

Meanwhile, officials from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the suburban collector refused to comment to HT’s queries, stating that the matter is sub-judice.

Police personnel told HT that they had taken legal action whenever there has been a complaint.