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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken decisive action against gold and silver smelting units located in South Mumbai due to their use of furnaces that emit harmful gases through chimneys during the metal melting process. These emissions have been identified as a significant threat to public health, prompting BMC's intervention. Moreover, the authorities have also extended their crackdown on foundries in Kurla, which engage in the melting of metal and alloys, subsequently casting the molten material into various moulds.
The environmental repercussions of these industrial activities have not been confined to the immediate vicinity of these units. Neighbourhoods such as Chembur, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), and Colaba have experienced poor air quality conditions over the past week. The air quality index (AQI) in these areas surpassed 200, which is considered detrimental to human health. Furthermore, the overall AQI for the city of Mumbai reached 149, signifying a moderate level of air pollution.
In a bid to curb the adverse effects of these emissions, the BMC initiated actions against these smelting units. Last week, chimneys associated with the smelting processes were dismantled from building number 18/20 Ovalwadi in Kalbadevi, as well as building number 12 on Vithoba Lane in the same locality. Subsequent to this, five more chimneys were demolished in the same area mid week.
The BMC has implemented strict regulations to address air quality concerns in Mumbai. Industrial facilities, including smelting units and foundries, are required to adhere to safety thresholds for particulate matter (PM) emissions, specifically PM2.5 and PM10. The safety limits stipulate that annual average emissions of PM2.5 should not exceed 60 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), with a daily average limit of 100 ug/m3. For PM10, the annual average limit is set at 100 ug/m3, and the daily average limit is 150 ug/m3. Non-compliance with these limits can lead to legal action and penalties.
Additionally, the BMC's P North ward office has issued two stop-work notices to two ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants and issued warning letters to two other RMC plants for their failure to adhere to pollution mitigation measures. These actions were taken under section 354A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, citing the plants' non-compliance with guidelines outlined in a directive issued on October 25. The notices require the immediate cessation of construction work at the RMC plants, with a 24-hour window provided for the submission of necessary permissions. Failure to comply within the specified timeframe may result in the removal or demolition of the building and the confiscation of materials and machinery, with the associated costs borne by the plant operators.
Civic officials have been proactive in addressing pollution concerns, having physically delivered intimation notices for pollution control to nearly 1,000 construction sites throughout the city. Additionally, more than 6,000 sites have been informed of the necessity to adhere to pollution control measures through the BMC website. The authorities have made it clear that further notices will be issued in the coming days, leaving no room for justification if measures are not promptly adopted. These measures align with the 27 pollution control guidelines released by the BMC on October 25, which apply to all worksites, including government projects, mandating compliance within 30 days.
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