**Mumbai BMC’s Environment Department to Introduce Stricter Pollution Penalties from November**

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Environment Department, currently enforcing Solid Waste Management (SWM) by-laws, is set to roll out a new independent by-law with stricter penalties starting November. This move will empower the department to take direct action and impose tougher fines for pollution violations, particularly targeting construction sites that breach dust control norms, thereby strengthening the city’s efforts to reduce environmental pollution.

### Current Guidelines and Their Limitations

In October 2023, the BMC issued directives requiring all construction sites to adhere to a comprehensive 28-point guideline designed to curb air pollution. Non-compliant sites are issued stop-work notices. However, while these guidelines help monitor pollution, they currently lack provisions for punitive action.

Presently, fines ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 are imposed under the SWM Department’s “Swachh Aangan 2006” by-law. The Environment Department does not have authority to collect these fines, limiting its enforcement capabilities.

### New Independent By-law on the Horizon

To address these gaps, the Environment Department is drafting a new independent by-law that will allow it to levy penalties specifically for environmental violations. The scope will include breaches at construction sites, pollution from bakeries and food stalls, and waste burning, according to a senior civic official.

Over the past three months, inspections revealed that 1,646 construction sites across Mumbai violated the BMC’s dust pollution control guidelines. Among these, 1,156 sites received show-cause notices while 490 were ordered to halt work immediately. Encouragingly, 166 contractors complied with the guidelines and had their notices withdrawn. Additionally, 191 sites resumed work after meeting compliance requirements and had their stop-work orders lifted.

### Pollution Control Measures for Construction Sites

The BMC’s guidelines require construction sites to:

– Be fully enclosed with green cloth or jute curtains to prevent dust from spreading.
– Install a minimum 25-foot-high sheet metal or roofing cover to contain dust and debris.
– Ensure prompt clearance of construction waste and prohibit abandoned vehicles on site.
– Regularly clean vehicle wheels entering and exiting the site, with developers responsible for providing necessary cleaning equipment.

### Winter Air Quality Concerns

Mumbai’s air quality typically worsens from November to February due to factors like ongoing construction dust and meteorological conditions. To mitigate this, civic authorities have banned wood burning and bonfires at construction sites during winter to reduce pollution and safeguard public health.

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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-environment-alert-bmc-to-enforce-stricter-pollution-penalties-on-construction-sites-from-november