Mumbai's construction boom has resulted in 11,125 active construction sites across the city, making it appear like a large excavation pit. R Central ward (Borivali West, Gorai) has the most sites with 942, followed by K East ward (Andheri-Vile Parle-Jogeshwari East) with 933 and K West Ward (Andheri-Vile Parle-Jogeshwari West) with 815.
However, South Mumbai wards have the fewest construction sites due to heritage rules. While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) data does not include locations dug up for infrastructure-related projects, the high number of building sites still contributes to the harmful air pollution that Mumbai residents have been experiencing.
To address the issue, BMC has created ward committees to monitor building sites from April 1. The committee's action plan includes sending warning notices to contractors to follow environmental regulations. Builders will be given stop work notices if they do not follow through. To prevent air pollution, environmental regulations for demolishing buildings require the installation of metal barriers and refraining from crushing and pounding debris. Contractors must continuously sprinkle water to prevent dust from becoming re-suspended.
Vehicles carrying construction material and debris must be thoroughly cleaned and covered to prevent dust from becoming airborne. Building materials and debris must be stored in designated areas and blocked with tarpaulin. Disposal of construction waste and debris on public streets, sidewalks, pavements, and open spaces is prohibited. Dust extraction systems with air pollution control technologies must be supplied when necessary.
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