Mumbai AQI at 132: Mumbaikars continue to breath 'moderate' category air; BMC to issue SOPs tomorrow
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a warning that it will halt construction activities, regardless of whether they are on private or government properties if proper dust and pollution control measures are not implemented, a report by PTI stated. Municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said, “Construction is going on at a whopping 6,000 sites in the city currently", an official release quoted Chahal as saying on Friday.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board revealed that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in various areas of the city exceeded 200 (categorized as "poor") during the day, PTI reported. The release stated that Chahal, who is acting as administrator of the civic body as its elections are pending, held a meeting with all stakeholders in view of the alarming air pollution levels in the city.
In the meantime, the BMC's official statement indicated that they will be issuing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or guidelines aimed at improving air quality, with a planned release date of Monday. The civic body is also going to operate anti-smog guns on 50 to 60 major roads, the release said.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the BMC would depute experts to verify the level of pollution caused by refineries in the city, Tata Power plant and RCF plant and check these sites for pollution control measures, it said. "Random samples shall be collected by the experts from these installations on a regular basis and they shall be chemically analysed to ensure that no pollution is caused by these plants," the release said.
Government agencies executing metro, road and other projects must enclose their construction sites and provide sprinkler systems and anti-smog guns, the BMC said. Chahal
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