All construction sites in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) must now install sensor-based pollution monitors to be accountable for their environmental impact, especially worsening air quality. Developers have a month to comply or face heavy penalties, including site closure.
MPCB Member Secretary Avinash Dhakne, an IAS officer, in a letter to all municipal corporations, has urged civic bodies to ensure that sensors are deployed at all construction sites to monitor pollution levels.
Mumbai’s consistently poor AQI, especially in winter, highlights the urgency of such measures. Construction dust, vehicular emissions, and garbage burning are major contributors to the city’s air pollution. The sensors will help identify high-pollution areas and enable timely corrective action.
In 2024, AQI levels in several suburban areas exceeded 200. In January 2022, a dust storm from the Gulf pushed Mumbai’s AQI past 500, reaching severe levels. Poor air quality has become a major health concern, with rising cases of respiratory diseases and asthma.
The Bombay High Court has also taken note of the crisis, with Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice G S Kulkarni questioning whether authorities are taking adequate steps to combat pollution.
As per the latest MPCB directive, all construction sites must install pollution sensors to continuously monitor and record real-time air quality data. “If any developer fails to install the device, authorities will initiate action, including site closure, until compliance is ensured,” the letter states.
The MPCB has also directed the BMC to oversee implementation and monitor pollution levels through a central command and control room.
