The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started implementing Graded Response Action Plan-4 (GRAP-4) to control the rising air pollution in Mumbai.
The decision has been taken as the air quality in the city has been continuously deteriorating throughout the month of November. The AQI is being recorded in the ‘poor’ category in many areas, and the entire city is covered in a smog-like haze.
On Thursday, November 27, Mumbai’s overall AQI was 173, which means ‘moderate’. However, ‘poor’ AQI was recorded at 6 places out of 21 AQI monitoring stations. The areas of Majgaon, Malad and Deonar have been continuously in the ‘poor’ and sometimes ‘very poor’ (AQI above 300) category.
With the implementation of GRAP-4, measures like washing roads, strict inspection of construction sites, and fines on polluting small industries will be taken in these areas. The BMC said that GRAP-4 will remain in force till the air quality improves.
According to the BMC officials, 95 flying squads of the BMC inspected 70 construction sites in the city.
As of November 26, 53 construction sites had been issued stop work notices for non-compliance with 28 BMC guidelines. These include 17 sites in Siddharth Nagar in ‘G’ South zone, 5 in Mazgaon in ‘E’ zone and 31 sites in Malad-West in ‘P’ North zone.
Under other GRAP-4 measures, bakeries in Mazgaon have been instructed to demolish their chimneys, while marble-cutting units in Chakla area of Andheri-East have been directed to use clean technology.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will take action against polluting industries and RMC plants in Deonar.
In addition, 450 junior inspectors in the BMC’s solid waste management department have been empowered to impose fines.
Officials said, “Construction and debris are the major causes of PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollution in Mumbai. Efforts will be made to reduce this pollution by cleaning roads and alleys. Anyone found dumping construction waste on the roads will be fined heavily.”
The junior inspectors will also monitor pollution-increasing activities like burning plastic, burning garbage.