Interference in a state government undertaking by the state environment department is not a frequent occurrence. But Mackintosh Burn has been pulled up for creating severe sound pollution at the construction site of the underground car parking plaza, bang opposite the Writers' Buildings. The car park project has been undertaken by the state public works department (PWD) who appointed Macintosh Burn for the construction work. According to a letter issued by the law officer of the environment department, the noise generated during construction work is beyond permissible limits and "such sound pollution and vibration is causing serious environmental hazards and annoyance in surrounding areas". The vibrations due to the construction activity could be felt within the 228-year-old Writers' Buildings ~ the principal seat of the state secretariat. PWD minister Mr Kshiti Goswami said a few days back that the chief minister himself had also inquired after being rattled by the vibrations. An official of the environment department said the matter had been taken up earlier with the PWD department but to no avail. Then the environment department decided to issue the warning yesterday, directing the construction company to take steps to reduce sound pollution and vibration. The state environment secretary, Mr ML Meena said: "When we had issued environmental clearance for the project we told them to take effective steps to reduce noise and vibrations particularly with such an old and important structure like Writers' Buildings in the vicinity.' Today an engineer of the PWD department confirmed that work was still going on in "full swing' hardly any sound emanated from the work site.