Mumbai High Court Addresses Air Quality

Summary of Court Proceedings and Air Quality Initiatives in Mumbai

Court Order and Concerns:

• The Bombay High Court initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) due to deteriorating air quality in Mumbai, expressing the necessity for immediate solutions.
• Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad are overseeing the case, focusing on public health impacts, particularly on children.

Air Quality and Health Impact:

• It was reported that highly toxic air quality was detected at various construction sites.
• A notable case was mentioned where a child’s lung development was reportedly impaired due to pollution.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Affidavit Highlights:

• Out of 1,954 ongoing construction projects, 1,020 have been completed, and 397 are active.
• As of December 11, 2025, 746 air quality monitoring devices have been integrated into the central system, with 600 providing live data.
• BMC issued 59 Stop Work Notices to construction sites for non-compliance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP IV).

Bakeries Compliance:

• Of 593 bakeries within BMC limits, only 209 operate on cleaner fuels.
• Transition status: 32 bakeries completed conversion, 25 are transitioning, and 246 remain to convert.

Dust Mitigation Efforts:

• Road washing conducted over 1,518.35 km collected approximately 67.86 tons of dust between November and December 2025.
• 25 misting machines are operational to mitigate dust pollution.

Long-term Projects:

• Project MANAS: A collaboration between BMC and IIT Kanpur, focuses on a hyperlocal sensor-based air quality monitoring network.
• Project AIRWISE: Developed with IITM Pune, aims to create an air quality intelligence and forecasting system tailored for Mumbai.

Penalties for Non-compliance:

• 315 cases of uncovered construction and demolition (C&D) vehicles led to penalties totaling ₹40,37,700.
• 567 cases of unauthorized C&D dumping and 107 instances of garbage burning were also penalized.

Court Directions:

• The court mandated the formation of a five-member independent committee to oversee inspections and submit their findings, emphasizing the need for immediate compliance at construction sites to reduce air pollution rapidly.
• The committee comprises officials from BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), civil society representatives, and a public health official.

Additional Notes:

• An earlier court ruling in 2023 had mandated the installation of air quality monitors at construction sites; however, it was noted that progress has been slow.

Next Steps:

• The court will continue to monitor actions taken by the BMC and related authorities, with a comprehensive action plan expected for the next hearing.

Key Actions Required:

• Immediate implementation of air quality measures at construction sites.
• Enhanced monitoring and reporting from the BMC on air quality and compliance with pollution control measures.
• Continued public health assessments concerning air quality impacts, especially on vulnerable populations.

This summary outlines the urgent actions being taken regarding air quality management in Mumbai and ongoing legal oversight to ensure compliance and progress in mitigating air pollution.