Mumbai: A day after a citizen group flagged massive dust pollution during demolition work at a site in Lokhandwala, Andheri (West), BMC’s K/West ward office issued a stop-work notice to the developer onOct 19 for failing to comply with air pollution mitigation guidelines. A penalty of Rs 35,000 was also imposed, officials said.The action followed a video shared by theLokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA) citizen group showing dust spreading across the surrounding locality during demolition work on Saturday morning. Residents complained that the dust was affecting people living in the neighbourhood as well as pedestrians.Dhaval Shah of LOCA said that in an official complaint letter they urged BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to intervene, pointing out that inadequate dust-control measures could worsen air quality and pose health risks, particularly to senior citizens, children and people with respiratory ailments. “This building is located in the mainLokhandwala market which sees huge crowds and developers need to be cautious to take dust suppression measures,” said Shah.Following the complaint, BMC in its notice issued under Section 354A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, cited multiple violations of its air pollution mitigation guidelines at the site of M/s D.G.S. Land Developer (India) Pvt Ltd. The property is located at the junction of Main Road and First Cross Road in Apna Ghar Complex, Oshiwara, Andheri (West).The violations listed in the notice include inadequate covering of construction materials and debris, storage of loose soil and debris on footpaths and roads, and the absence of an effective dust-extraction system with appropriate air pollution control technology. The civic body also flagged uncovered grinding, cutting, drilling and other construction activities, as well as the absence of a vehicle tyre-washing facility.BMC directed the developer to immediately stop the work and warned that further legal action would follow if the directions were not complied with. It also asked Oshiwara police to keep watch at the site and remove personnel engaged in the work to ensure compliance with the notice.The civic body said the action was necessary as the developer and architect had failed to follow the prescribed air pollution mitigation measures.Chakrapani Alle, assistant municipal commissioner of K/Westward, confirmed the noticeand penalty imposed.The notice has been sent to the local senior police inspector of Oshiwara police station.TOI reached out to D G S Land Developer (India) Pvt Ltd. for a comment but did not receive a response.
