Only 21% of over 3,000 construction sites in Mumbai have installed AQI sensors, civic body data shows
Earlier this year, the Mumbai civic body had instructed all construction sites to install sensors to track the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the area, besides displaying its readings at the entrance.
The system, designed and implemented by IIT-Kanpur, will use low-cost AQI monitoring sensors to provide AQI data readings at a much more hyperlocal level.
(Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Data with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) shows that only 21 per cent of the construction sites in the city have complied with the mandatory requirement of installing air quality sensors so far.
According to figures with the civic body, only 662 of the total 3,100 construction sites in Mumbai have installed sensors, with officials maintaining that the installation of such sensors is underway at 251 other sites.
Earlier this year, the BMC had instructed all construction sites within its limits to install sensors to track the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the area, besides erecting an LED board to display its readings at the site’s main entrance. The idea behind the move is that when the sensors show the AQI reaching ‘unsafe’ or ‘poor’ levels, the ongoing work could either be stopped or mitigation measures initiated, like sprinkling of water.
The BMC, in its Mumbai Air Pollution Action Plan (MAPAP), had identified dust displacement from construction sites to be a primary contributing factor to the city’s plummeting air quality.
Meanwhile, civic officials have maintained that they have been sending notices to real estate firms to ensure the sensors are installed at the earliest. “For sites that are not following the rules, we are sending a ‘stop work’ notice. So far, we have sent 53 such notices to real estate firms across Mumbai,” said an official.
Further, the BMC has deployed 450 junior officers to carry out site visits. “These officers are visiting construction sites to check if they have installed the sensors and whether the readings are displayed accurately. They are also keeping a record of the sites that are yet to comply with the rules,” the official added.
Meanwhile, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Mumbai’s overall AQI stood at 113 on Monday, which is regarded as ‘moderate’. Last week, after locations like Mazgaon, Deonar and Malad recorded poor AQI consistently, the BMC had imposed Stage-4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in these locations in a bid to check the pollution. GRAP has four stages, with Stage 4 being the basic stage and Stage 1 being the advanced one.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
