The Maharashtra government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that air pollution monitoring systems have been installed at a majority of construction sites across Mumbai as part of measures to curb rising pollution levels in the city.
Replying to a question raised by Dahisar MLA Manisha Chaudhary during the ongoing Budget Session, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said it was incorrect to claim that the administration had no information regarding compliance or action related to the installation of air quality monitoring sensors at construction sites.
He said that as per the orders issued by the Bombay High Court on January 9 and April 29, 2025, it has been made mandatory to install air pollution monitoring devices along with LED display boards at all ongoing construction projects.
Shinde informed the House that 1,952 out of 2,224 construction sites in Mumbai had installed air pollution monitoring systems as of February 16, 2026. In addition, a Decision Support System (DSS) has also been implemented to help monitor and analyse air quality data.
Measures to control construction dust
The Deputy Chief Minister rejected the claim that the administration was ignoring pollution caused by construction dust. He said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is implementing the “Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2023” to control air pollution levels and address major sources of emissions.
He said the civic body issued comprehensive guidelines on October 25, 2023, prescribing 27 measures for construction contractors, developers, construction professionals and municipal officials to control dust pollution. These guidelines were revised on October 15, 2024, increasing the measures to 28.
The measures include installing sheet barricades around construction sites, covering the areas with green cloth or netting, regular water sprinkling to suppress dust, and ensuring scientific storage and transportation of debris. The guidelines also mandate the installation of air pollution monitoring equipment at construction sites along with other preventive steps to reduce dust emissions.
To ensure proper implementation of these guidelines, the BMC has formed departmental flying squads that conduct inspections and take action against violators.
Long-term steps to reduce pollution
Shinde also highlighted several long-term initiatives being undertaken in coordination with various government agencies and stakeholders to address air pollution in Mumbai.
These measures include improving road quality, expanding public transport through metro networks and promoting sustainable urban mobility across the city.
He informed the Assembly that 354 wood and coal-based bakeries and crematorium furnaces within the BMC limits have been converted to cleaner fuels such as pipeline natural gas or electricity.
The BEST undertaking is also gradually introducing electric buses in its public transport fleet to help reduce vehicular emissions.
In addition, the government appointed the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in December 2024 to identify pollution sources and update the emission inventory for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Shinde said that in view of these ongoing measures, the question of delay in addressing air pollution in Mumbai does not arise.
