In a significant move to curb rising air pollution in Mumbai and its suburbs, real estate developers are now required to install air quality monitoring systems at all construction sites. The directive follows an order from the Bombay High Court in connection with Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 3 of 2023, which emphasizes stringent dust and air pollution controls at construction zones.
In response, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the selection of approved PM2.5 and PM10 monitoring devices. These devices must be selected through the AutoDCR portal during the building permission application process.
To support this transition, CREDAI-MCHI, the apex body representing real estate developers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, is launching a pilot demonstration project at select construction sites across the city. These pilot projects, conducted in collaboration with vendors empaneled under BMC's EOI, will showcase integrated early-warning systems and real-time pollution monitoring.
Key features of the pilot include Live monitoring of PM2.5 and PM10 levels integrated with BMC’s cloud infrastructure, On-site sirens and buzzers that trigger when pollution levels near dangerous thresholds and Automated email alerts to site managers and project executives when levels rise within 50 micrograms per cubic meter of the regulatory limit.
Installed air quality monitors at construction sites must Display real-time pollution data on LED boards, Transmit data continuously to BMC’s centralized server for surveillance and compliance tracking. Whereas Non-compliance with these directives may result in the suspension of project approvals, stop-work notices, financial penalties, or complete site shutdowns.
To aid its members in implementing these measures, CREDAI-MCHI will provide Access to BMC’s approved list of monitoring equipment and specifications, Templates and toolkits for SOP implementation,Training programs for site staff and compliance officers, Organized site visits to pilot projects for knowledge sharing and replication.
In an official statement, Keval Valambhia, Chief Operating Officer of CREDAI-MCHI, emphasized the industry’s responsibility in tackling pollution,”This is not just a compliance issue — it’s a responsibility. We urge all members to adopt this framework without delay. Upholding air quality standards is vital to maintaining the credibility and environmental integrity of the housing sector.”
With this initiative, the real estate sector takes a crucial step toward aligning development with environmental accountability, signaling a proactive approach to cleaner construction practices in Mumbai.
