A view of the city enveloped in a thick layer of haze, in Mumbai.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Bombay High Court, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation on Mumbai’s worsening air quality, on Monday (December 22, 2025) questioned whether the Bandra East plot chosen for its new building figures in Mumbai’s poor air quality reports and directed the municipal commissioner and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) chief to appear in person on Tuesday (December 22, 2025).
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad were reviewing a committee report on air pollution when it flagged “serious lapses” at the government colony being demolished for the ₹4,000-crore High Court complex. The inspection, carried out earlier this month at 36 locations, found no dust-control measures, uncovered debris, and unsafe storage of gas cylinders at the site. Vehicles carrying rubble were also seen without covers, and there was no CCTV or sensor-based monitoring.
The report stated, “Demolition work is being carried out without any barricading or dust suppression. Debris is lying scattered, and vehicles transporting rubble are uncovered. Gas cylinders used for steel cutting are stored on pavements, posing safety hazards.”
In its earlier observations, the Court had noted that the committee found widespread non-compliance with basic pollution-control norms across the city. It recorded that “construction sites lacked sprinklers, smog guns, and proper barricading,” and pointed out that even major projects were ignoring guidelines meant to curb dust and particulate matter.
Calling the situation “a complete failure of enforcement,” the judges said accountability must rest with the heads of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and MPCB.
The Court had previously ordered strict compliance with norms such as water sprinkling, smog guns, and surveillance at construction sites, and set up a five-member panel to monitor progress.
On December 15, the Court had expressed alarm over Mumbai’s “toxic air” and warned that the city’s AQI levels were consistently in the poor category. It had directed the civic body to submit a detailed compliance report and outline future plans to curb pollution, including measures for construction dust, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollutants.
The Court said the demolition phase cannot worsen Mumbai’s already poor air quality, which has remained in the “unhealthy” range for weeks.
The matter will be heard again on December 23.
Published – December 23, 2025 12:34 am IST
