Mitigating air pollution: BMC visits 815 construction sites, issues notices to 461 in a day

As per the guidelines, municipal commissioner and state appointed administrator, Iqbal Singh Chahal has instructed ward officers to deploy an enforcement squad to ensure the guidelines are implemented and illegal dumping of debris from the construction and demolition sites is prevented.

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According to the BMC, civic officials visited 815 construction sites across island city. (Express File Photo)

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In the latest move of its ongoing battle against Mumbai’s worsening air quality levels, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials visited 815 construction sites on Friday and issued notices to 461, instructing them to follow the civic guidelines to mitigate air pollution.

Following the publication of The Indian Express series — Death by Breath, which shed light on the violation of civic mitigation norms and the deteriorating condition of Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) owing to unmonitored construction work, the BMC issued a charter of guidelines for air pollution mitigation on October 25.

According to the BMC, civic officials visited 815 construction sites across island city as well as the western and the eastern suburbs on November 3, following which intimation notices were issued to 461 sites, reiterating the guidelines of the latest mitigation plans. The officials also warned of “stop work” notices if they were found violating the norms. “A strong warning has been given by the BMC of strict action like sealing the workplace,” read a BMC bulletin.

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The inspection was carried out by ward level enforcement squads, whose deployment was called for by the BMC’s mitigation plan. As per the guidelines, municipal commissioner and state appointed administrator, Iqbal Singh Chahal has instructed ward officers to deploy an enforcement squad to ensure the guidelines are implemented and illegal dumping of debris from the construction and demolition sites is prevented.

The squad, led by a senior ward official, comprises two ward level engineers, one policeman, one marshal and a vehicle. While the larger wards of the city are slated to have six squads each, middle sized and small wards will have of four and two squads respectively.

According to the data in the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan (MAPMP) document, the key factor contributing to pollution in Mumbai is the dust arising from the construction and demolition work on the string of ongoing projects, followed by road dust and its resuspension into the air.

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Seeking to keep a tab on the violations, the BMC norms stated, “The enforcement squad shall visit the premises and video graph the worksite. If it is observed that the worksite is not adhering to mitigation provisions, stringent action such as issue of stop work notice and/or sealing of worksite shall be taken immediately.”

Nayonika Bose

Nayonika Bose is a Trainee Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

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