BMC reinstates ward level teams to implement pollution control measures

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started issuing fresh notices to all the real estate companies that are carrying out construction works in Mumbai, asking them to instal air pollution monitoring sensors within the next 30 days in all the project sites.

Seeking to oversee its implementation, the BMC on Thursday said that it has revived its ward level teams. According to officials, the monitoring teams will comprise two engineers and one police personnel, equipped with Vehicle Tracking and Monitoring System. In case of violations of guidelines, the BMC will take action with show cause notices and penalties.

Additional municipal commissioner Ashwini Joshi said that in cases of consistent AQI over 200, the authorities will invoke the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-IV) by shutting down industries and stopping construction activities.

On December 30 2024, the BMC commissioner had announced that all construction sites will be shut in areas where the air quality index (AQI) breaches the 200-mark, which is categorised as “poor”. Following this, construction works in Borivali East and Byculla were suspended with immediate effect.

Over the past 14 days, AQI in Mumbai has consistently breached 100 with city’s overall index touching 145 on Thursday. The worst air quality was recorded in Deonar where the AQI was 269, which falls under the poor category, followed by 237 in Mazgaon.