Mumbai civic chief Bhushan Gangrani said, BMC is expected to control the entire AQI. However, our rules, regulations, add systems are designed to control construction dust that contributes to pollution in the city
Mumbai has been witnessing haze in parts of the city. File Pic
The construction dust factor contributes to about 35 per cent to bad air quality in the city, according to a study by the Indian Institute of Technology, said Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on Wednesday.
Speaking to the media after the release of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) budget for the financial year 2026-27, Gagrani said, "BMC is expected to control the entire AQI. However, our rules, regulations, add systems are designed to control construction dust that contributes to pollution in the city."
He added that this requires a mix of monitoring and action, adding that BMC has partnered with IIT Kanpur to launch the Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Sciences, (MANAS), a hyperlocal AQI monitoring system using 75 AI-powered low-cost sensors. The system will provide real-time, neighborhood-level (0.5 sq km) air quality data, surpassing the 2 km range of existing CAAQMS, for precise identification of pollution sources.
Gagrani said, "AQI is included by multiple factors, instead of the common belief that the singular factor of construction dust is responsible for AQI."
He identified these sources as -
- Metrological factors that are beyond the control of any agency
- Regular pollution that has to be tackled through action, but not by any singular agency such as BMC.
- Construction dust that BMC can act to curb
According to information from the BMC budget 2026-27, "In its efforts to improve air quality, BMC has deployed advanced electric sweepers and mechanical power sweepers designed to capture particulate matter, specifically PM2.5 and PM10 supported by litter-picker machines and washing of major roads using non-potable water is carried out to maintain cleanliness in high-footfall areas. Apart from these, BMC has also deployed the misting machines at each ward."
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