Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Milind Deora has sounded a stark alarm, declaring that Mumbai is currently facing a 'public health emergency' due to its dangerously deteriorating air quality. In a decisive move, the Rajya Sabha MP has formally written to the Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Bhushan Gagrani, demanding an immediate halt to all construction, excavation, and road-digging activities across the city until the pollution situation shows significant improvement.
Alarming Pollution Data Reveals Critical Situation
The urgency of Deora's appeal is backed by hard data. In his letter dated November 27, he highlighted a severe spike in particulate matter. On November 22, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) touched an 'Unhealthy' level of 298. The concentration of the most hazardous PM2.5 particles was recorded at 126 µg/m³, while the larger PM10 particles soared to a staggering 1,163 µg/m³.
The following day, November 23, provided little respite, with the AQI remaining high at 255. The MP further cited the BMC's own Environment Status Report 2024–25, which indicates that the Chembur area consistently records the highest pollution concentrations in the city. He emphasized that October 2025 was the most polluted month of the year, with several monitoring stations reporting their worst PM2.5 and PM10 readings since January.
Failure of Dust Control Measures and a Call for Drastic Action
Deora pointed out a significant gap between policy and practice. Despite the BMC issuing comprehensive dust-control guidelines in October 2024—mandating measures like full site barricading, green cloth facades, water sprinkling, and dust-extraction systems—compliance on the ground has been poor. He cited areas like Mazgaon, where the AQI has repeatedly crossed the 300 mark, as clear evidence of enforcement failures.
Arguing that 'routine measures will no longer suffice', the MP called for a temporary moratorium on all construction, including projects by utility agencies. He identified construction dust as the single largest contributor to particulate pollution and stated that a temporary pause would offer the most immediate relief to the city's choking populace.
A Comprehensive Blueprint for Cleaner Air
Beyond the construction ban, Milind Deora laid out a detailed set of demands for the BMC. His proposals include:
- Daily inspections of all construction sites with immediate shutdowns for violations.
- Mandatory washing and water-sprinkling of debris and cement trucks.
- Establishment of compulsory washing bays at project sites.
- Enhanced dust-suppression through fogging machines and mechanical sweepers in known pollution hotspots.
- Installation of independent real-time AQI monitors in construction and industrial zones.
- Ward-wise public disclosure of all air quality data.
- Strict penalties, including restrictions on future permits, for repeat offenders.
Deora stressed that prolonged exposure to such high levels of particulate matter drastically increases the risks of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, posing a particular threat to children and the elderly. He concluded that air quality management must become a year-round priority for the administration, rather than a seasonal reactive measure. Sharing his letter on social media, he asserted that Mumbai 'deserves better' and called for a widespread public movement to demand the fundamental right to clean air.
