BMC takes several actions to tackle air pollution in the city

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent a notice to Prestige Group to halt construction work at its project site in Mulund for flouting the rules.

This development came four days after the civic body issued new guidelines, issued on October 25, to curb air pollution caused by construction sites across the city. It includes several measures that construction sites must take to minimise their impact on air quality.

The assistant commissioner of the T ward office, which comprises areas of Mulund West, issued them a stop work notice on October 27, after a flying squad inspected the construction site of the Prestige City buildings Siesta, Bellanza and COC, in Yogi Hill, Mulund.

According to the notice, they were in contravention of 13 of the new guidelines. These are to do with the lack of tin or metal sheets covering the construction site, the site not being enclosed in green cloth, not covering vehicles carrying construction material and debris, not having CCTV cameras, not having air pollution monitors, not carrying out work in enclosed spaces, not unloading the construction and demolition waste as per the BMC’s rules, vehicles not having PUC certificates, workers not wearing protective equipment, vehicles not having tracking systems, construction debris not stored in a barricaded area and not ensuring vehicle tyres are washed.

Additionally, the civic body has focused on preventing illegal dumping of construction debris as one of the measures to prevent air pollution. However, it was noticed that despite an imposing fine of ₹20,000, construction debris transportation is carried out without any fear in Malad. So, the BMC's P North ward has sent a list of 50 such vehicles and has requested the state transport commissioner to cancel their registration.

The BMC notice states that the builder needs to procure and install adequate sprinklers and smog guns within 15-30 days respectively from the issuance of the said guidelines i.e from October 25 failing which the work site will be sealed by the corporation.

Currently, there are around 6,000 construction sites in the city.

It is pertinent to note that in just three days, more than 4,000 people signed an online petition, urging the BMC to expedite the implementation of the 'Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan' which was released in March.

The public concern comes amid the city's consistent poor air quality. The petition was started on October 27. It appeals citizens to pledge support to the schemes of state government and civic authorities, which aim to reduce pollution.