November 08, 2025: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has issued a stern warning to developers to strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for controlling air and noise pollution at construction sites or face penalties and potential work stoppage.
The directive follows rising complaints from residents and directions from the Bombay High Court. The instructions were issued during a special review meeting chaired by Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, aimed at strengthening on-ground enforcement.
In December 2023, the Bombay High Court, through a suo motu Public Interest Litigation, directed civic bodies to implement strict dust, air, and noise pollution control measures linked to construction and blasting activities. Acting on the order, NMMC formulated and published a comprehensive SOP on August 1, 2024, which is now in force across its jurisdiction.
However, a recent inspection on October 12, 2025, found 59 developers violating these norms. Notices were issued to them on October 24, demanding immediate corrective action. To ensure compliance, ward-level vigilance teams—including assistant commissioners, engineers, sanitation officers, and garden department staff—have been deployed to monitor construction sites.
A follow-up meeting, chaired by Assistant Director of Town Planning Somnath Kekan, instructed developers to maintain dust-free sites by installing foggers and sprinklers, cleaning vehicle wheels before exiting sites, setting up CCTV cameras, and completing work only within permitted hours. Proper barricades and clear footpaths were also mandated.
“Developers must strictly follow the municipal SOP to mitigate air and noise pollution, failing which, stringent action will be taken,” Kekan warned. Persistent violations, the NMMC said, will attract heavy penalties and potential suspension of construction work.
Source: The Free Press Journal
