According to new regulations measures need to be taken against dust, smoke and air pollution for the building as well as the site along with dust/wind-breaking walls all around the site.
| Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has recently incorporated several conditions into the building permissions, which require the developers to adhere to the standards pertaining to dust pollution at the construction site.
As per the guidelines issued in the name of GHMC Commissioner K.Ilambarithi, the builders should comply with the ‘Dust Mitigation Measures for Construction and Demolition Activities’ formulated by the Central government under the Environment (Protection) Amendment Rules, 2018.
The conditions have been stipulated in view of many complaints pertaining to noise and dust pollution from across the city, especially the West Zone where construction activity is at its peak.
Measures should be provided against dust, smoke and air pollution for the building as well as the site, including screens for the building under construction and continuous dust/wind-breaking walls all around the site which are at least three metres in height.
Ambient noise levels should not exceed those mentioned in the Noise Pollution (Control & Regulation) Rules, and in order to adhere to the same, in sites over 2000 square metres in area, the developers should install decibel monitors or sound level meters.
The monitors should accurately record the decibels continuously and log them with date and time stamp in their internal retrievable storage device, the conditions stipulate.
In sites over 2000 square metres in size, the builder should also place dust monitors in order to record the intensity of the particulate matter. The monitors should record PM2.5 and PM10 continuously with date and time stamp.
Vehicles bringing in the construction material or taking debris out should be covered using plastic/tarpaulin sheets. The vehicles should be in good condition and should conform to the noise and ambient air standards. Besides, they should not be operated in the peak traffic hours.
The conditions also stipulate proper disposal mechanisms for hazardous waste, if any, with approval from the Telangana State Pollution Control Board.
The Commissioner has issued instructions to all the Town Planning officials to conduct regular inspections to see if the conditions are being met by the builders, and initiate necessary action as per the law.
Published – February 08, 2025 08:22 pm IST
