According to a civic official, work at building sites in Mumbai’s Byculla and Borivali East would cease once 24-hour notices are given because the local air quality index (AQI) is consistently higher than 200. Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani announced Monday that construction will cease at both government and private construction sites, including those being operated by the civic body, until the air quality index improves.
Gagrani, who also serves as the chair of the air quality monitoring committee created by the Bombay High Court, stated that failure to follow instructions in this area will result in action under section 52 of the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act and the filing of police reports.
“Until the AQI is reduced to a safe level, agencies and developers who are concerned won’t be allowed to start working again. “Until Mumbai’s air quality improves, the BMC will not grant any permission for trench digging,” Gagrani said. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has sent letters to all ready mix concrete (RMC) companies in Mumbai and the surrounding metropolitan area, requesting that they build sheds that cover the whole plant area to reduce pollution, according to committee member secretary Avinash Dhakane.
More than 500 RMC factories in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area provide concrete for building projects.
Parts of Mumbai saw poor air quality on Monday, which prompted local authorities to urge citizens to take preventative measures and demand stringent pollution control measures. Here, Byculla, a well-known residential neighbourhood, with an air quality rating of 170.
Good (0–50), satisfactory (51–100), moderately polluted (101-200), poor (201-300), very poor (301-400), and severe (401–500) are the six AQI classifications.
Source: ET Realty
