Bombay High Court Creates Five-Member Inspection Team to Combat Mumbai's Worsening Air Quality Crisis

The court has mandated a comprehensive report submission by December 15.

Mumbai:

The Bombay High Court on Friday established a five-member inspection team in response to Mumbai's worsening air quality. This team, comprising officials from the BMC, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, state health department, and civil society representatives, will evaluate construction sites across Mumbai for adherence to pollution-control regulations.

During a hearing on a PIL regarding the city's deteriorating air quality, Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad expressed serious concerns about Mumbai's AQI reaching hazardous levels. They emphasized the need for stringent action against construction sites that violate dust-mitigation protocols.

The court observed that while broader air-quality challenges might require more time to resolve, construction-related dust pollution could be addressed immediately through rigorous enforcement of existing guidelines.

"Let us ensure that construction sites and dust pollution are tackled. Delhi has been struggling with the pollution issue for more than 15 years. In Mumbai, if proper steps and guidelines are followed, we can achieve better results," stated the bench.

The judges reinforced requirements for continuous AQI monitoring at project sites, effective debris management, dust suppression measures, and compliance with the established 28-point mitigation framework. They emphasized that authorities must issue timely public-health advisories as pollution levels increase with winter's approach.

This directive followed the BMC's issuance of stop-work notices to 53 construction sites for non-compliance the previous day. Civic officials reported that over a hundred sensor-based air-quality monitors installed at various sites were non-operational.

The High Court had previously dismissed arguments attributing the pollution surge to external factors such as volcanic ash, noting that Mumbai had experienced haze and reduced visibility long before such explanations emerged. The bench concluded that accountability and enforcement, rather than excuses, would determine whether the city could address its worsening air-quality crisis in the upcoming weeks.