BMC Bans Burning Of Trash In Open In Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued Guidelines for Air Pollution Mitigation, which prohibit open-air burning of waste or any other materials throughout Mumbai. These guidelines were signed by municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal in response to the deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) in India's financial capital.

An official release stated, "There shall be a complete ban on open burning anywhere in the geographical area under BMC, especially at garbage dumping grounds and potential sites for waste burning."

The guidelines also specify that builders in the city must utilize vehicles equipped with tracking systems for transporting construction materials. Furthermore, CCTV cameras are required to be installed along the periphery of all construction sites to ensure that vehicles are free from debris and not overloaded.

For projects exceeding a height of 70 meters, the BMC mandates the construction of at least a 35-foot-high wall made of tin sheets around the site. Additionally, all under-construction and "under-demolition" buildings must be covered from all sides using green cloth, jute sheets, or tarpaulin.

The guidelines emphasize the need for continuous sprinkling or spraying of water during the process of demolishing a structure. Water fogging is required during the loading and unloading of materials at construction sites, and water must be sprinkled on debris and earth materials that are likely to generate dust.

To prevent spillage on the road, all vehicles transporting construction materials must be fully covered and not overloaded. The guidelines also call for the deployment of sensor-based air pollution monitors at work sites, with immediate action required if pollution levels exceed prescribed limits.

Works involving grinding, cutting, drilling, sawing, and trimming should be conducted in enclosed areas with continuous water sprinkling or fogging. The guidelines make it mandatory to erect 25-foot walls around all BMC worksites, including under-construction bridges, flyovers, and above-ground metro works.

To enforce air pollution mitigation, the BMC stipulates that ward officers should establish squads comprising two engineers, a police officer, and a marshal. These enforcement squads will visit worksites, videograph them, and take stringent action, such as issuing stop-work notices and sealing worksites, if they do not comply with the stated provisions.

The civic body provides a 15-day and 30-day window for the installation of sprinklers and fog guns at construction and other work sites, respectively.