BMC issues stop-work notice to Andheri demolition site over dust-control violations

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.