Madhapur Police Book Restaurant Management for Noise Pollution Complaints by Apartment Residents

Madhapur police have booked the management of a restaurant in the White Rock commercial complex at Kavuri Hills Road after nearby residents complained about excessive noise from the eatery’s air-conditioning compressors and kitchen exhaust ducts.

According to a complaint filed by environmental engineer M Venkatnarsu from the Telangana Pollution Control Board (TPCB), the Telangana Human Rights Commission (TSHRC) asked TPCB and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to investigate the issue raised by the Sai Balaji Towers apartment association.

Residents said noise from heavy-duty AC compressors and kitchen exhausts was disturbing their homes. TPCB engineers checked the site on September 11 and recorded sound levels of 62.5 decibels on a third-floor balcony, which is well above the daytime residential limit of 55 decibels set by law. The Environment (Protection) Act and a government order designate the city police commissioner as the authority for enforcing noise rules.

During their inspection, TPCB officials also noticed that another restaurant was preparing to install more kitchen exhausts and AC compressors facing the apartment block.

Based on TPCB’s report, police registered a case against the eatery under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobeying orders, making the atmosphere harmful to health, and causing public nuisance. The police plan to serve a notice to the restaurant and collect management statements as part of their investigation. TPCB asked the police to share the action taken report for submission to the Human Rights Commission.