Spice mills sealed over noise violations in Thane

Thane: Seven spice grinding mills operating in the Mahatma Phule market in the Naupada area have been sealed by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) following complaints of excessive noise pollution from local residents. A TMC survey found the mills' heavy grinding machines were generating ear splitting noise levels of up to 100 decibels. Despite being issued notices in March to relocate to industrial zones, the mills continued operations in the densely populated area. Acting on instructions from Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao, a joint inspection was carried out by the zonal Deputy Municipal Commissioner Shankar Patole, Chief Environmental Officer Manisha Pradhan, Assistant Commissioner Sopan Bhaik, along with a team from the Naupada ward last month. The teams noticed that the heavy machines installed in each of these units were generating excessive noise, with levels recorded at around 100 decibels. tnn