BMC issues a notice, fines contractor for causing air pollution in Mulund

Workers did not spray water on dug out mud, which resulted in dust accumulation and thus air pollution

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notice and fined the contractor, who was tasked to lay down a sewer line in Mulund (west), but failed to follow the norms leading to poor air quality in the area and as a result, 22 residents of Marathon Avenue Marg were hospitalised within a span of a month.

Hindustan Times had reported on February 24 on how large scale construction, constant road digging and sewerage work by BMC had contributed to air pollution in the area and the

Footpath of the Marathon Avenue Road with excavated mud, debris during sewerage work.

hospitalisation of the residents.

Chakrapani Alle, assistant commissioner T ward, said there were two issues raised by local MLA regarding air pollution.

One was due to construction site, which were not following the required norms, and the other was due to BMC’s contractor flouting tender conditions while digging the road for a sewer line.

“They were not spraying water, which leads to dust accumulation in the air about which we have informed the building

FEB 24, 2023: HT had reported on how constant road digging and other works had contributed to air pollution in Mulund.

proposals department. It is this department, which issues permit to all the building works in Mumbai. They will issue a warning to the concerned contractor for violating the building norms,” he said.

About the dust accumulating due to laying of sewer line on Marathon Avenue Road, Alle said, “A lot of earth excavated was spread on the carriageway and whenever a vehicle passes, the dust gets accumulated. The contractor had been warned to sprinkle water regularly.

“We have written a letter to the implementing agency to impose fine on the contractor as per tender conditions — which states to follow safety precautions, so that there is minimum inconvenience to the citizens,” said Alle.

BMC has also demanded reinstatement of the trench and to repair the damaged footpath on Marathon Avenue Marg and to initiate action against the contractual agency as per tender condition. The matter came to light after MLA Mihir Kotecha alerted the BMC’s sewerage department on Thursday about the shoddy work done by the contractor, who had left soil and debris, from excavation, on the road for over a month “leading to the poor air quality in the neighbourhood” and demanded that “the contractor be booked for playing with the lives of citizens”.

HT PHOTO