BMC chief Bhide orders strict action against builders over construction dust in Mumbai

Developers and builders are fully responsible for preventing dust from rising at construction sites in Mumbai and on the roads around them, and any negligence must draw immediate and strict action, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has directed.

She gave the instructions at a review meeting held at the civic headquarters on controlling air pollution in Mumbai, the High Court's orders and improving air quality. Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Avinash Dhakane and Deputy Commissioners Avinash Kate and Prashant Gaikwad were present, along with all zonal joint commissioners and assistant commissioners.

The commissioner also said all administrative departments must strictly follow the High Court's directions on curbing noise pollution from firecrackers.

Under the High Court's directions, bursting firecrackers on public roads, footpaths and lanes is completely banned. The ban also applies in silence zones such as schools, hospitals and courts. The commissioner said departments must enforce the directions strictly. Public representatives and schools were also asked to run awareness campaigns encouraging green firecrackers in place of polluting ones.

The civic body has issued a 28-point guideline to control pollution. Bhide stressed that its implementation must be visible on the ground and not just on paper. Developers must take preventive measures so that dust from construction premises does not spread into the air.

Officials were directed to act without compromise wherever violations are found. Air quality monitoring stations and sensors in the city must also remain operational at all times. The commissioner warned that if any system is found switched off or showing wrong readings, responsibility will be fixed and action taken.

The meeting was also told that a special cleaning drive will be run using updated machines to control road dust.