Residents near the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) plant in Yelahanka are taking action over noise pollution as the 370 MW power plant prepares for its launch on September 24. Frustrated with inaction from authorities, residents have begun using their mobile phones to measure sound levels, which they claim exceed acceptable limits.
According to a sound level monitor installed by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the maximum recorded level is nearly 69 dB. However, residents assert their measurements reach up to 75 dB, particularly at night, causing severe disturbances to their sleep. The cooling towers of the plant, located just 200 meters from the Heritage Estate apartment complex, are said to produce constant noise that affects vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the elderly.
While KPCL officials maintain that the plant operates within permissible sound limits for an industrial zone 75 dB they acknowledge the ongoing installation of acoustic measures to reduce noise further. They also report that real-time noise data is being monitored and shared with regulatory authorities.
Residents express concerns about the use of treated water for steam generation, fearing potential health risks and increased humidity from evaporation. They argue that the environmental assessments were conducted without adequate public consultation, despite the surrounding area’s transition to residential development.
The proximity of the plant to protected water bodies, which support local wildlife, raises additional alarm among residents, who feel that environmental impacts were overlooked during the approval process. They are calling for a reevaluation of the industrial zoning designation, citing the detrimental effects on their quality of life.
