The Bombay High Court took a strict note on Monday regarding the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai and the inaction of authorities. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Mr. Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad, directed the BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and the MPCB Secretary to appear personally in court today, i.e., Tuesday.
This order came after a comprehensive 74-page report by a four-member committee constituted by the court. The report found blatant violations of pollution control guidelines at construction and industrial sites in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
The committee discovered that relevant agencies completely failed in enforcing compliance on the ground.
Source: aajtak
Construction Projects Flout Regulations
Shocking revelations surfaced from the court-initiated committee investigation. Most construction, demolition, and roadwork sites in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai showed no adherence to the existing pollution prevention regulations.
The report highlighted that despite numerous standard operating procedures and circulars, the officials failed to enforce them on the ground. The court acknowledged that the heads of both agencies must personally answer for their officials' negligence and inaction.
High Court's New Building Construction Negligence
The committee also visited the proposed site in Bandra East for the new Bombay High Court building. The demolition activities there were found to be conducted recklessly and hazardsously. According to the report, a considerable amount of dust and debris was scattered around, with no provision for sprinklers or smog guns to control dust dispersion. Adequate barricading or wet covers for debris were also absent.
The report also pointed out the disregard for safety standards. Construction sites lacked air quality monitoring sensors, and CCTV surveillance was not in place. Debris-carrying vehicles were found uncovered, and gas cylinders for steel cutting were openly placed on sidewalks, posing severe safety risks.
Public Interest Litigation and Court Rebuke
This entire proceeding is part of a Public Interest Litigation undertaken by the Bombay High Court regarding Mumbai's worsening air quality in 2023. Criticizing BMC and MPCB, the court stated that the officials' lack of oversight is turning the city's air to poisonous levels. They will need to personally clarify why their departments have failed to implement pollution reduction regulations. The court made it clear that now, senior officials must take responsibility for their team's inactivity.
