MUMBAI: BMC commissioner IS Chahal on Friday morning held a meeting with officials from MMRDA, SRA, MSRDC and also members from the construction industry to tackle concerns related to pollution being echoed by various city residents.
Mumbai at present is witnessing 6,000 construction works which include public infrastructure projects too.
As part of the action plan, all construction sites have been instructed to prioritize the installation of Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring systems and anti-smog guns, in addition to implementing strict CCTV surveillance to monitor proper management of vehicles transporting materials and dust containment during construction activities.
Chahal said that detailed guidelines are set to be released on Monday, with immediate instructions for ward officials to conduct regular visits to at least two construction sites per day to ensure compliance.
Even public infrastructure projects, including the Metro, have been directed to erect iron barricades up to 35 feet high around the equipment sites.
The pollution due to refineries, Tata Power Plant and RCF to be checked by experts in this field.
As of Friday, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained within the moderate category at 132 (See graphic).
“For the construction industry any construction site having area of one acre or above shall compulsorily have an iron sheet enclosure of 35 feet high on all sides. For an area less than one acre construction site, the iron sheet enclosure shall be of 25 feet height. The entire building under construction shall be enclosed with green cloth/jute sheet/tarpaulin to ensure that no dust spreads during the construction activity,” the BMC said in a statement adding that there would be 50 special squads for monitoring pollution control. “50 squads in 24 Municipal Administrative Wards shall visit all the construction sites every day to ensure compliance of above instructions. These squads will do video-recording at the construction sites where violations are observed and issue stop work notice at the site itself. The squads of Transport Commissioner shall check if any vehicles are plying on roads beyond their designated service life, without proper PUC or overloading and take stringent penal and disciplinary action against the defaulters including revocation of such vehicle’s registration,” said the BMC.
After the meeting with civic authorities, developers apex body – Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) – issued advisory for all the developers urging them to follow the civic body laid rules.
A BMC ward level official said that off the 6,000 infrastructure there could also be works which are put on hold. “However we are planning to issue notices to all the construction projects in our ward asking them to put all measures in place,” said the official.
“We cannot merely pay lip service to air pollution. The city’s mega infra project managers must be held accountable for dust management.Redevelopment projects must be actively managed at Ward level by specifically designated teams under a nodal officer of Secretary rank,” said Atul Kumar, President Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Welfare Trust (NPCCWT).
Mumbai at present is witnessing 6,000 construction works which include public infrastructure projects too.
As part of the action plan, all construction sites have been instructed to prioritize the installation of Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring systems and anti-smog guns, in addition to implementing strict CCTV surveillance to monitor proper management of vehicles transporting materials and dust containment during construction activities.
Chahal said that detailed guidelines are set to be released on Monday, with immediate instructions for ward officials to conduct regular visits to at least two construction sites per day to ensure compliance.
Even public infrastructure projects, including the Metro, have been directed to erect iron barricades up to 35 feet high around the equipment sites.
The pollution due to refineries, Tata Power Plant and RCF to be checked by experts in this field.
As of Friday, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained within the moderate category at 132 (See graphic).
“For the construction industry any construction site having area of one acre or above shall compulsorily have an iron sheet enclosure of 35 feet high on all sides. For an area less than one acre construction site, the iron sheet enclosure shall be of 25 feet height. The entire building under construction shall be enclosed with green cloth/jute sheet/tarpaulin to ensure that no dust spreads during the construction activity,” the BMC said in a statement adding that there would be 50 special squads for monitoring pollution control. “50 squads in 24 Municipal Administrative Wards shall visit all the construction sites every day to ensure compliance of above instructions. These squads will do video-recording at the construction sites where violations are observed and issue stop work notice at the site itself. The squads of Transport Commissioner shall check if any vehicles are plying on roads beyond their designated service life, without proper PUC or overloading and take stringent penal and disciplinary action against the defaulters including revocation of such vehicle’s registration,” said the BMC.
After the meeting with civic authorities, developers apex body – Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) – issued advisory for all the developers urging them to follow the civic body laid rules.
A BMC ward level official said that off the 6,000 infrastructure there could also be works which are put on hold. “However we are planning to issue notices to all the construction projects in our ward asking them to put all measures in place,” said the official.
“We cannot merely pay lip service to air pollution. The city’s mega infra project managers must be held accountable for dust management.Redevelopment projects must be actively managed at Ward level by specifically designated teams under a nodal officer of Secretary rank,” said Atul Kumar, President Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Welfare Trust (NPCCWT).
