The Maharashtra government is creating a strategy to encourage developers to utilise precast materials in an effort to combat the threat of Mumbai’s increasing pollution. A task team has also been established by the state’s environment department to offer solutions for the growing pollution problem. According to Maharashtra Environment Minister Pankaja Munde, the policy will incentivise real estate developers and contractors to switch from on-site to precast construction. Rather than building on-site, the developers will be asked to bring prefabricated parts from outside the city to the construction site.
According to a Mantralaya official, the environment department wants the developers to establish precast manufacturing facilities outside of Mumbai city and its suburbs.
“The government has taken action against the ongoing construction projects for failing to control the pollution,” Ms. Munde stated. They will be able to continue working without causing environmental damage thanks to the precast building material. This will be an excellent step towards lowering air pollution.
The environment minister stated that both public and private construction sites would be included in the regulation.
According to officials, the task force will bring together several departments, such as the health and transportation departments. They would offer solutions for handling environmentally hazardous medical waste.
Mumbai, the nation’s financial centre, experienced terrible air quality in January 2025 as a result of numerous building projects, including the Metro projects in the city and its environs. After that, letters were sent to building sites by the environment department and the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) requesting that they either halt their work or take corrective action, such as spraying water to lessen pollution.
The environment minister added that a policy would be introduced shortly. The task force’s work and the creation of a roadmap to reduce pollution in Mumbai are also in progress. Numerous other ministries, including health, transportation, and organisations like BMC, are being trusted to choose their role in carrying out the policy. To keep pollution under control, a number of actions and their monitoring will be necessary, according to Ms. Munde.
The environment minister went on to say that the government will take action to ensure that the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), which is established by cooperative housing societies, is implemented properly.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
