Asking for pvt helipad violates noise pollution norms: Ramesh

The notion of having private helipad does not make sense 'as at both national and global level we are demanding for equity and equitable access to global atmospheric space,' Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said in Mumbai on Monday.

"I have written to the Chief Minister on the issue. Asking for private helipad does violate noise pollution rules," Ramesh told reporters here, replying to a query on status of Maharashtra government's plan to set up helipads on the rooftop of buildings in the city.

"The notion of having private helipad does not make any sense to me when we are talking about equity and equitable access to atmospheric space," he said.

"I know that there many applications pending and I have written to the CM and have done all I can," the minister said.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), in an affidavit, has told the Bombay High Court that it does not support new helipads in Mumbai.

"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 in general both during day and night, such new helipads are avoidable," R N Jindal, Additional Director, MoEF, said recently.