Thane Municipal Corporation has issued showcause notices to 68 construction sites and imposed fines totalling Rs 35 lakh after inspecting 80 locations for violations of dust-control and air-pollution guidelines, officials said on Tuesday.
The inspections were carried out by the civic body’s Pollution Control Department across six municipal ward areas as part of an enforcement drive aimed at limiting dust and other pollutants from construction activity. The action follows directions issued by the High Power Committee constituted by the Bombay High Court under a suo motu public interest litigation from 2023.
Civic officials checked whether construction sites had adopted prescribed dust-control arrangements and other measures to prevent pollution from spreading into surrounding areas. The Thane Municipal Corporation said the inspections were being conducted in line with directions issued by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
The MPCB had issued 29 guidelines through a letter dated November 2, 2023, directing their strict implementation under Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The guidelines apply to measures intended to control pollution generated by construction and related activity.
The largest number of inspections took place in the Naupada-Kopri and Uthalsar areas, where 58 construction sites were checked and 52 showcause notices were issued. In Mumbra, three sites were inspected and two notices were issued, while all seven sites inspected in Kalwa received notices.
A further 12 sites were inspected across the Majiwada-Manpada and Vartak Nagar areas, resulting in seven showcause notices. The civic body said fines totalling Rs 35 lakh were imposed in these two areas for violations of the prescribed rules.
The inspection drive also covered the stretch between Kapurbawdi Junction and Gaimukh, where representatives of metro agencies and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority participated. The concerned agencies were instructed to follow the pollution-control guidelines along the route.
The enforcement action comes as Thane continues to see construction and infrastructure activity across multiple urban corridors. Construction dust can affect residents, pedestrians and road users in areas where excavation, material handling and vehicle movement take place close to populated neighbourhoods.
Thane Municipal Corporation warned that developers found violating Bombay High Court directions or failing to comply with MPCB guidelines would face legal action under the applicable rules. Chief Environment Officer Vidya Sawant said inspections and enforcement measures would continue to improve air quality and protect residents’ health.
