As Mumbai Air Quality Worsens, BMC Warns Of Shutting Down Construction Sites Flouting Pollution Norms

The development comes after the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai went above 200, making the air quality “poor” at several places.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai went above 200, making the air quality “poor” at several places.

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New Delhi: In the wake deteriorating air quality in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) warned of shutting down construction sites that flout the pollution control norms, news agency PTI reported. “At all these places (where construction is going on) dust and pollution-control measures should be implemented. Else, construction will be stopped, be it private or government work,” an official release quoted municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal as saying.

The development comes after the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city went above 200, making the air quality “poor” at several places.

Chahal held a meeting with all stakeholders in view of rising air pollution in the city on Friday, PTI reported.

At the meeting, Chahal suggested various measures to control the air pollution. The measures include compulsory use of 35-feet high iron sheet enclosures around the construction sites and also covering the under-construction buildings with green cloth or jute sheets.

Meanwhile, the BMC release said guidelines for ensuring better air quality will be issued by Monday.

“Sprinkler systems should be provided at all construction sites within 15 days and anti-smog guns should be provided within 30 days. The civic body is also going to operate anti-smog guns on 50 to 60 major roads,” the BMC release said.

The BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board would also depute experts who would collect samples from the refineries in the city and analyse them to ensure the emissions from these plants don’t add up to the air pollution.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ravi Raja said the city’s AQI was the worst in the country on Thursday, and accused the administration of not implementing any guideline of its own pollution mitigation plan.

"The city faced the same problem last year too and then the BMC released the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan in March 2023. But it seems that not even one guideline was implemented," PTI quoted the Congress leader as saying.