Civic body directs developers to implement pollution control measures
NMMC Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde holds a meeting with stakeholders. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Construction sites across Navi Mumbai are now under strict civic surveillance, with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) warning developers that projects violating air pollution norms may be halted or even lose permissions.
The warning came after NMMC Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde held a high-level meeting with over 70 developers and architects, following strong observations by the Bombay High Court on construction-related air and noise pollution.
Officials said a high court-appointed monitoring committee recently inspected several construction projects, a ready-mix concrete plant at Turbhe and civic road works, and flagged poor on-ground implementation of dust-control measures. The committee stressed the need for uniform and strict enforcement of pollution norms across all sites.
All construction sites will be required to install CCTV cameras and real-time air quality display boards. Representation Pic/istock
As part of the crackdown, all construction sites will be required to install CCTV cameras and real-time air quality display boards, linked to a centralised monitoring system accessible to the NMMC and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Any breach of permissible air quality limits will trigger automatic alerts, officials said.
To tighten surveillance, the civic body plans to install 55 additional air quality monitoring stations, ensuring one AQMS for every 2 sq km within city limits.
In a shift from temporary fixes, the NMMC has decided to prioritise road washing over fogging, particularly on arterial routes such as the Thane-Belapur Road and Sion-Panvel Highway, to prevent dust from re-entering the air.
Excavation and road-digging works will face stricter timelines, with contractors expected to complete works within 24 hours wherever feasible and clear debris daily. Illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste will invite strict penalties.
Officials said non-compliance with the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) could lead to immediate stoppage of work and cancellation of building permissions. With winter worsening dust levels, the message from the civic body is clear — control pollution or shut down.
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