**Mumbai: BMC’s Environment Department to Enforce Stricter Penalties for Pollution Violations from November**
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Environment Department, currently responsible for enforcing Solid Waste Management (SWM) by-laws, is finalising a new set of by-laws with stricter penalties. These new regulations are set to take effect in November, empowering the department to act directly and impose tougher fines on pollution violations. Special focus will be on construction sites that breach dust control norms, strengthening efforts to reduce environmental pollution across the city.
### Current Guidelines and Limitations
In October 2023, the BMC issued directives mandating all construction sites in Mumbai to adhere to a 28-point guideline focused on reducing air pollution. Construction sites that fail to comply are issued stop-work notices. However, these guidelines currently lack provisions for punitive actions.
At present, fines ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 are imposed under the SWM Department’s ‘Swachh Aangan 2006’ by-law. Notably, the Environment Department does not have the authority to collect these fines, limiting the effectiveness of enforcement.
### New Independent By-Law in the Pipeline
To address this gap, the BMC’s Environment Department is preparing to draft an independent by-law designed to impose penalties for various environmental violations. These include breaches at construction sites, pollution from bakeries and food stalls, and illegal waste burning.
A senior civic official confirmed that the by-law will provide the department direct authority to penalize offenders, a move expected to significantly boost pollution control efforts.
### Recent Enforcement Statistics
Over the past three months, authorities identified 1,646 construction sites in Mumbai violating dust pollution control guidelines. Based on complaints and ongoing inspections:
– 1,156 sites received show-cause notices.
– 490 sites were ordered to stop work.
– Of these, 166 contractors complied with guidelines and had their notices withdrawn.
– 191 sites resumed work after compliance, with stop-work orders lifted.
### Pollution Control Measures for Construction Sites
The BMC’s guidelines mandate several measures to minimize dust pollution at construction sites:
– Sites must be fully enclosed using green cloth or jute to prevent dust dispersion.
– A minimum 25-foot-high sheet metal or roofing cover should be installed to contain dust and debris.
– Construction waste must be cleared promptly.
– Abandoned vehicles on construction sites are prohibited.
– Vehicle wheels entering and exiting the site must be regularly cleaned to reduce dust spread, with developers responsible for providing cleaning equipment.
### Additional Measures to Combat Winter Pollution
Mumbai’s air quality typically worsens from November to February, partly due to construction dust and other factors. To protect public health during winter months, civic authorities have banned wood burning and bonfires at construction sites.
—
For more details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai and surrounding areas, visit: [https://budgetproperties.in/](https://budgetproperties.in/)
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-environment-alert-bmc-to-enforce-stricter-pollution-penalties-on-construction-sites-from-november