The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is gearing up to resume its stringent inspections of construction sites across Mumbai, following a temporary pause during the state assembly elections. Civic authorities, who had to reallocate staff for election duties, will now refocus their efforts on curbing the rising air pollution levels that have become a significant concern in the city during the winter months.
For the past two years, the air quality in Mumbai has deteriorated sharply between November and February, mainly due to dust emissions from construction activities. To address this, the BMC had proactively directed construction companies to implement dust control measures earlier this October, ahead of the upcoming winter season. However, inspections were delayed due to the diversion of resources to election-related responsibilities, with more than 60,000 civic staff members being deployed for electoral duties.
With the state assembly election results expected by the weekend, BMC authorities are preparing to resume full-scale inspections. A meeting has been scheduled for the following Tuesday with newly appointed deputy engineers from the environment department to finalise strategies to combat pollution. The meeting will focus on updating and reinforcing the existing protocols to mitigate construction-related dust emissions effectively. Each of Mumbai’s 24 administrative wards will be assigned dedicated inspection squads, consisting of senior officials, engineers, police officers, and marshals. Larger wards will have up to six squads to ensure comprehensive coverage. To support these efforts, the BMC has appointed deputy engineers in 20 of the city’s wards.
The BMC’s guidelines for construction sites are clear: developers are required to install metal barriers around their projects, cover buildings with green cloth or tarpaulin, and use water spraying systems during demolition to control dust. Additionally, the civic body has intensified its vigilance on activities such as burning wood for cooking or lighting bonfires at these sites, both of which contribute to air pollution. As Mumbai braces for the upcoming winter months, the BMC is under pressure to curb the city’s growing pollution problem. The renewed focus on construction site inspections and pollution control measures comes as part of a broader commitment to improving the city’s air quality and ensuring a healthier environment for its residents.
