Mumbai Residents Plagued by Building Works

The residents of Mumbai are once again affected by the practices of local builders.  Raheja Developers have recently placed a cement mixing plant in the middle of their housing complex, causing round-the-clock the noise disturbance for the residents, as well as spewing out a fine dust which spreads throughout the air, making it impossible to escape from breathing it in.

Residents held a protest within their compound, demanding that the plant be shut down with immediate effect. The builders are using the plant to produce cement for other ongoing projects unrelated to the Raheja Vihar complex. Locals are up in arms at the disturbance from the plant itself, as well as heavy goods vehicles which pass through outside their homes several times daily.

Supporter and Raheja Vihar resident JP Shetty spoke on behalf of the complex: “The residents have been ever since been protesting setting of the plant in a residential area. We don’t understand how the builder managed permission despite this. The developers have turned a deaf ear to our request of closing the plant. We are meeting again on this Thursday to decide future course of action.”

Fellow homeowner Akash Khanna added: “It is frustrating to live in area where we bought flats for peace that we face the plant’s music and the fine dust suspended in the air is the carrier for many diseases and allergies that have become a common place here, any doctor will vouch for this.”

Raheja Developers have claimed their not doing anything wrong and have rubbished the complaints from locals: “We have installed low-noise machines and the whole area is covered to baffle sound and prevent of fly-ash. Thus the claim of residents does not hold ground.”

Local authorities spokesperson Sharad Pawar gave the following statement: “I have received a number of complaints on this mixture plant and I approached the concerned authorities to look into this.”

This isn't the first time Mumbai locals have fallen foul local builders. Niranjan Hiranandani, owner of Hiranandani Construction has long duped unsuspecting residents. The most notable incident being the homes in Powai he was commissioned to build for underprivileged families, but instead built luxury apartments and sold them to the rich in order to turn more profit. Niranjan Hiranandani has been investigated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on more than one occasion due to his dishonest business deals.