Pedestrians in Mumbai’s Thakur Village, Kandivali East, faced inconvenience as dust from excavation work at a construction site on Samata Nagar Road spread across the surrounding area.
The construction activity, being carried out at a site operated by Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate, involved workers using a truck-mounted drilling rig for excavation. The drilling generated considerable dust, which drifted onto the adjoining road and affected people passing through the area.
Several pedestrians were seen covering their faces while walking past the construction site as the dust filled the air. The situation raised concerns over the effectiveness of measures being adopted to control dust from ongoing construction and excavation activities.
A water-spraying dust suppression system had been installed at the site to minimise the spread of airborne dust. However, the system was reportedly not in operation while drilling work was underway.
Construction sites in densely populated neighbourhoods such as Thakur Village are surrounded by residential buildings, commercial establishments and busy roads. As a result, dust generated during excavation can directly affect pedestrians, motorists and residents in the vicinity.
Apart from causing discomfort, excessive construction dust can reduce visibility and create an unpleasant environment for people travelling through the affected stretch. Prolonged exposure to airborne construction dust can also raise concerns about air quality, particularly in areas with heavy pedestrian and vehicular movement.
The incident highlights the need for construction agencies to ensure that prescribed dust-control measures are implemented consistently throughout excavation and other activities that generate large quantities of dust.
Using water-spraying systems while drilling and excavation work is underway can help suppress dust at its source and reduce the amount escaping from construction sites. Regular monitoring of such measures could also help ensure compliance with environmental and civic guidelines.
With construction activity continuing in several parts of Mumbai, effective dust management remains important to minimise its impact on surrounding communities. For residents and pedestrians in Thakur Village, timely implementation of such measures could help reduce daily inconvenience and improve conditions around the busy construction corridor.
Source: Mid-day
