Mumbai: A day after halting construction activities in Byculla and Borivali East, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) intensified its crackdown by issuing stop-work notices to 78 construction sites on Tuesday. The decision comes in response to a period of unusually dense haze in the city, accompanied by elevated Air Quality Index (AQI) levels.
Mumbai’s AQI has since improved to the moderate category. However, the civic body is determined to mitigate dust pollution from construction activities, a major contributor to air quality deterioration. In line with this objective, the BMC has also suspended new permissions for road repair work across the city. The move aims to address even minor contributors to air pollution.
According to a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report released at 4 pm on Tuesday, Mumbai recorded an average AQI of 126 (moderate), with PM 2.5 and Ozone 3 identified as the primary pollutants.
On Monday, the BMC activated the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4), mandating a halt to construction work in areas where AQI exceeded 200. The directive applies to both public and private construction projects, except for road concretisation work.
To enforce the order, BMC officials are inspecting construction sites under a stringent 28-point guideline framework. A critical requirement is the presence of an Environment Management Plan (EMP) at each site. Construction sites that failed to demonstrate a valid EMP were promptly issued stop-work notices. By Tuesday, 33 sites in Byculla and 45 in Borivali East had received such notices. These areas consistently reported AQI levels in the ‘poor’ category throughout December.
BMC officials warned that ignoring stop-work notices will result in legal action under Section 52 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. “We are taking all necessary measures to curb air pollution. Currently, the city’s overall AQI is in the moderate range. However, we will continue to monitor air quality in Borivali East and Byculla for the next eight days before deciding on any further action,” said Avinash Dhakne, member-secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
Apart from Byculla and Borivali East, other localities such as Navy Nagar and Worli are also under close observation due to high AQI readings. The BMC is expected to extend its monitoring to these areas and take similar corrective measures if required.
The BMC’s initiative underscores the urgency of addressing environmental issues in Mumbai, a city that frequently grapples with fluctuating air quality. By targeting construction dust and limiting road repair activities, the civic body hopes to achieve a sustained improvement in air quality.
Residents have expressed mixed reactions to the BMC’s stringent measures. While some have welcomed the proactive approach, others have raised concerns about the potential delay in infrastructure projects. Nonetheless, environmentalists have lauded the civic body’s actions, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions to combat air pollution.
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