Mumbai: Amidst the complaints of rising air pollution levels, the BMC has started regular inspections of construction sites flouting dust mitigate norms. In just two months- February and March 2025, the BMC has issued show cause notices to as much as 878 construction sites and stop work notices to 438 sites across Mumbai for not following set guidelines for air pollution control.
The construction sites which have been slammed with notices, includes private construction sites as well as government sites, where work is carried by authorities including BMC itself, MMRDA, SRA, MHADA etc. Out of the total show cause notices issues in last two months, 46% are government sites and out of total Stop Work notices 24% are government sites, highlighting that despite repeated warnings even the government appointed contractors do not take the guidelines for air pollution control measures seriously.
In 2023, the BMC came up with 28 set of guidelines to be followed mandatorily at the construction sites, which prominent includes covering project site with green cloth, deploying air pollution measuring machines, regular fogging or water misting to control flying dust, tyres cleaning and proper disposal of construction debris among others.
Out of the total 878 show cause notices across 24 civic wards, N ward (Ghatkopar, Vikhroli), R-central (Borivali) and D ward (Malabar Hill, Girgaum, Tardeo) tops the list with, 250, 213 and 126 notices respectively.
While out of the total Stop Work notices, R-central ward (Borivali) and K-West ward (Andheri, Vile Parle West) tops the list with 135 and 120 notices respectively.
"Every ward has a squad which is responsible for inspect construction sites. If they are going violating norms, a showcase notice is issued. In the next inspection, if the sites are found continuing violating the norms, a stop work notice is issued. The notices are issued by the designated officer of each ward. When we find the sites have are following the guidelines, the stop work notices is revoked," said a senior BMC officer.
In the two months, out of the total show cause and stop work notices, 169 and 180 respectively revoked after the construction sites followed the set guidelines.
