Mumbai Air Pollution: BMC implements stringent measures to reduce pollution at construction site

“BMC has now made it mandatory to enclose the places of buildings under construction with 35 feet high sheets to prevent dust along with mandatory enclosure of entire building with cloth cover. The municipal body has now also directed to install sprinklers at all construction sites within fifteen days and smog gun system within a month. Major 50 to 60 roads of the city will be micro-sprayed with smog guns in the morning and instructions have been issued for review of air quality in the vicinity of refineries," BMC said in its press statement.

According to the BMC, Chahal said in the meeting that hardly ten to fifteen days have passed since the end of the monsoon, it is being observed that the air quality is adversely affected in the Mumbai region and also in the Mumbai metropolis. The central and state governments have also taken note of it and have been instructed to implement immediate measures. Dust is a major factor behind the increase in air pollution. Although the construction business is a major component of the economy, there is a need to take measures to prevent dust, to make other factors that cause pollution to act according to the rules, for this, all the government agencies in Mumbai should coordinate with each other and take urgent and mandatory measures. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board also appealed to other municipal corporations and related organizations of Mumbai region to speed up the measures by holding an urgent meeting. He further said that at present there are around 6,000 thousand construction sites in Mumbai. Like all existing rules and circulars, the system and measures should be found to be actually implemented, otherwise they will have to face strict action, Chahal said.

Mumbai’s guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar has claimed that ongoing works of development projects such as metro were causing dust pollution in the city.

Kesarkar conceded that air pollution has increased in the city. It was not a chemical pollution, he said while talking to reporters at the BMC headquarters.

Works of metro, bridges as well as real estate projects are going on in the city, he said. Fogging machines have been installed for controlling pollution in neighbouring Thane, and officials were checking if such machines, besides pollutant absorbing machines, can be installed in Mumbai, the minister said. “The government was also thinking of appointing an agency like IIT Bombay to study the feasibility of replacing hand carts with battery- operated vehicles which will help handcart pullers and reduce traffic congestion in central Mumbai,” he added.

The meeting, conducted on a Friday afternoon, was attended by various high-ranking officials, including the Secretary of the Chief Minister's Office, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), Principal Secretary of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, and representatives from construction and development sectors like CREDAI, MCHI, NAREDCO, and PEATA.

In an area of one acre or more, there should be a minimum height of 35 feet iron/sheet covering around the construction site. Apart from that, the entire construction area should be covered with jute or green cloth.

A minimum of 25 feet height of iron/sheets/cloth cover should be provided on plots less than one acre.

Every construction site should have a sprinkler system and spray water at least 4-5 times a day to prevent dust.

Anti smog machine should be installed at every construction site within next 15 days.

To reduce the amount of dust on the roads in Mumbai, anti-smog machine vehicles will be activated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

A separate air quality index measurement system should be installed at each construction site.

There should be provision of frost spraying and dust prevention plants with 35 feet high covers also in government construction works such as metro, roads, flyovers etc.

At the places where construction of metro rail is going on, the concerned agencies should pay more attention to the air quality in the area and take all the measures within their power.

Even while demolishing buildings or any structure, cover all around and demolish the structure later, so that dust does not spread. Also all rules should be followed.

Any structure that generates dust should be completely covered.

Cutting, grinding etc. of marble, stone, wood etc. required for construction should be done in enclosed areas or covered areas only.

Protective materials such as masks, goggles etc. should be provided for the protection of the manpower working at the construction site.

Construction material as well as debris (debris) hauling vehicle should be covered. Also, the weight limit of the vehicles should be observed, these vehicles should not carry more weight than the limit.

While hauling construction debris, frost spray should be applied during each shipment. Also the wheels of vehicles should be washed and cleaned after every consignment.

CCTV should be installed at every construction site to ensure that the vehicles are not carrying more than their capacity and that the wheels of the vehicles are properly cleaned after each shipment.

Ensure that PUC test is done on time for every construction related vehicle. If it is found that the test has not been done, the transport department should take immediate action.

Transportation of construction debris as well as waste materials should be done carefully. Strict action should be taken against those driving the traffic irresponsibly and endangering others through special squads. Legal action should be taken along with fine.

In some places, it is found that the radars are transported at night and dumped in deserted places. Squads should be formed to prevent such types, these squads should patrol at night and take direct action against such vehicles.

Efforts should be made by them to control the air pollution caused by the big power, energy and gas projects in Mumbai. They should re-examine whether they have taken all the measures decided by the government or how.

Pollution control systems at these project sites should be inspected through Bharari team. The Municipal Corporation system should also check and ensure the quality of air in the vicinity of refineries. In areas like Mahool, it will be the responsibility of all concerned agencies to implement the measures regularly and forcefully henceforth. Otherwise, they will also face action.

Special teams should be constituted to inspect the construction sites under all the 24 administrative divisions (wards) of the Municipal Corporation.

At least 50 teams can be appointed in each department. These teams should make surprise visits to the construction sites and shoot live videos. Also, if any deficiency is found in the measures, such constructions should be immediately stopped (stop work) by giving a notice on the spot.

All Assistant Commissioners should also take dust prevention measures at the construction sites under their jurisdiction on footpaths and other places.

Entry of diesel based vehicles older than the prescribed time limit is prohibited, accordingly the same should be thoroughly inspected through the State Transport Department.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Roads Department teams will inspect every road in Mumbai to reduce dust while cleaning.

Also, at least 50 to 60 very busy roads in Mumbai Metropolis should be regularly dispatched with vehicle based anti-smog machine (anti-smog machines) and sprayed every day in the early morning/morning, so that the roads can be cleaned and dust prevented.