HC Panel Slams Mumbai Sites for Air Pollution Violations

A five-member committee appointed by the Bombay High Court has concluded that a majority of construction, demolition, industrial, and roadwork sites in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai are failing to adhere to pollution-control measures. The committee's report, submitted to the High Court on Monday, revealed that air quality index monitors at these sites are not integrated with official pollution measuring systems, undermining effective monitoring.

The panel observed that pollution-control devices were often installed without verifying their functionality or coverage, with display monitors inaccessible from outside the sites. Furthermore, crucial mitigation efforts such as water sprinklers and smog guns were found to be implemented in a cosmetic or ad-hoc manner, failing to address the core issues of air pollution generated from ongoing development and infrastructure projects.

The committee also noted that vehicles transporting demolition waste were not covered and lacked tracking systems, contrary to mandates. Municipal road cleaning activities were observed to be contributing to dust generation. The report underscored the need for real-time integration of AQI data with official systems for accurate and continuous monitoring and compliance.