Mumbai Air Pollution: Bombay High Court forms five-member team to monitor construction sites

The Bombay High Court on Friday constituted a five-member team, comprising officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Health Department, and members of civil society, to examine rising air pollution levels in Mumbai. The team has been tasked with visiting specific areas of the city and submitting a report by December 15 on whether air pollution control guidelines are being followed at construction sites.

Court cited Delhi's long-term struggle with air quality

During the hearing, Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar noted that improving Mumbai’s air quality could take time, citing Delhi’s ongoing challenges over the past 15 years, IANS reported.

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The petitions before the court highlighted worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Mumbai. Advocate Darius Khambata, appointed by the court, observed that although guidelines exist, enforcement has been limited.

He pointed out that there are roughly a 1,000 construction sites in Mumbai, and the majority of these sites do not follow the rules.
Vehicle emissions were also highlighted as a concern, though the bench remarked that vehicle-related pollution could be managed more straightforwardly.

Civil society participation

Two civil society members, nominated by lawyers present in court, will be part of the team. Advocate Janak Dwarkadas, representing an NGO, stated that he had observed non-compliance at multiple construction sites in Walkeshwar, emphasising the need for active monitoring.

Milind Sathe, representing the BMC, said the corporation operates 94 special squads to inspect construction sites. The bench directed that data on inspections carried out over the past year be maintained for public scrutiny. It also asked for details regarding the installation of CCTV cameras and sensor boards at construction sites.

Health advisory and public awareness

The court directed the Health Department to issue a health advisory before the onset of autumn to raise public awareness about air pollution. Additionally, the High Court suggested the government could provide free masks at railway stations and bus stops to protect commuters.