Fri Nov 15 19:31:30 UTC 2024: ## Chennai Residents File Noise Pollution Complaint Over Demolition Project
**Chennai, November 16, 2024** – Residents of Padmanabha Street in T. Nagar, Chennai, are battling excessive noise pollution stemming from a building demolition project opposite their apartments. The demolition, ongoing for a week, utilizes pneumatic jackhammers, generating noise levels consistently reaching 80 decibels (dB) for up to nine hours daily, according to resident measurements using a CDC-recommended app. This significantly exceeds the permissible 55 dB limit for residential areas set by the Central Pollution Control Board.
The contractor, who initially employed a quieter excavator, expects the loud demolition to continue for another three to four weeks. Concerned residents filed a formal complaint with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on Friday. While a TNPCB official visited the site and received assurances from the contractor that the work would be completed within a week, the board indicated it requires further action from the complainants before taking independent action. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing development projects with residents’ rights to a peaceful environment.
First Piper 