Mumbai: Amid worsening pollution, BMC has found that 117 of the 400 sensor-based air quality monitors at 1,000-odd construction sites that are linked to its dashboard are inactive, prompting questions from environmental activists about vigilance.It’s not known for how long these mandatory monitors haven’t been operational. BMC’s additional commissioner Ashwini Joshi on Thursday warned that strict action will be taken against those turning off their units. Meanwhile, BMC issued notices, including those directing halting of work, to 62 construction sites, including 31 in Malad West, 17 in Worli and five in Mazgaon, over two days for violating pollution control norms. It plans to issue stop-work notices to marble cutters in Andheri, and has informed Maharashtra Pollution Control Board about errant ready-mix cement sites in M-East ward. According to civic officials, of the nearly 1,000 construction sites valued under Rs 1,000 crore, 662 have set up air quality monitors, while installation of 251 others is underway. Of those installed, 400 have been linked to BMC’s dashboard. Projects costing over Rs 1,000 crore have to install reference-grade air quality monitors, which cost up to Rs 20 lakh each, in a week. An official said among the reasons cited for inactive monitors were lack of electrical supply or WiFi, pending fabrication work and non-receipt of data from project proponents. “We inspected 70 such sites on Thursday and are examining whether the reasons are genuine.” Activist Nikhil Desai, however, asked why BMC didn’t crack down on such errant sites before the city’s air quality began to plummet. “Near my home in King Circle, I see construction sites openly ignoring the norms,” he said. “BMC shouldn’t have waited till so many sensors were found non-functional.” BMC will initiate a three-day dust mitigation drive across key locations, beginning Friday. Additional water tankers, misting machines and mechanical road sweepers will be deployed. The recent smog draping the city prompted Sena MP Milind Deora and former BJP corporator Makarand Narwekar to urge BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani to halt all road and construction work till the air quality improves. Meanwhile, an IMD official clarified that the eruption of the Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia wasn’t responsible for the city’s haze. “The conditions are the result of a combination of abnormally low wind speeds and temperature inversion, where cool air stays trapped beneath warm air, preventing pollutants’ dispersal. Such inversions are common in late winter. Their early arrival this year has worsened air quality.“
