The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) took strict action on Saturday night, October 26, to address air pollution. Officials issued stop-work orders to two construction sites in Andheri East after it was found that there were violations of air quality regulations.
The two sites are located in Vile Parle and Andheri (JB Nagar). Residents in the area reported the issues, which led the BMC to investigate the situation. Special inspection teams found that the sites were not following the required dust control measures.
In JB Nagar, debris from demolition fell onto a nearby chawl. At the Vile Parle site, an excessive amount of dust was produced as construction continued without adequate barriers.
These stop-work orders fall under the BMC’s new air quality guidelines, introduced on October 25, 2023. The guidelines require all construction sites taller than 70 meters to be surrounded by tin or metal sheets at least 35 feet high. Demolition sites must be fully covered with tarpaulin, and water spraying is mandatory during demolition to keep dust levels low.
The two developers involved, Kamala Homes & Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd. at the Vile Parle site and Chandak Realtors Pvt. Ltd. at the JB Nagar location, were given immediate instructions to halt all construction work. They were asked to provide proof of compliance within 24 hours. Both developers risk further penalties if they fail to meet the BMC’s requirements, including the removal of all construction materials and machinery from the site.
The stop-work orders were issued under Section 354A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. The notices also state that any continued violations would lead to all equipment, machinery, and materials being removed from the site at the developers’ own cost and risk.
As per reports, the city experienced a decline in air quality in Mumbai in November. This trend was observed over the past two years.
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