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The BMC's environment department has issued an SOP for sub-engineers to monitor air pollution control measures at construction sites. Contractors must submit Environmental Management Plans (EMP) detailing pollution sources and mitigation strategies. Ward-level sub-engineers from the mechanical and electrical engineering department will inspect sites, ensure compliance, impose penalties for violations, and collaborate with the SWM department to address dust and waste burning issues. Non-compliance may lead to show cause notices or stop-work orders. Monitoring squads, disrupted due to elections, will soon resume operations, ensuring stricter enforcement of air quality regulations at infrastructure project sites.
The environment department of the BMC has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for its sub-engineers to effectively monitor and enforce air pollution mitigation measures at construction sites. Advertisement
The SOP outlines the necessary steps for sub-engineers to follow during site visits. Additionally, BMC has instructed contractors of infrastructure projects to submit an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for their respective projects.
Since dedicated sub-engineers are yet to be assigned, the responsibility for these tasks has been transferred to the sub-engineers within BMC's mechanical and electrical engineering department at the ward level.
According to a BMC official, the sub-engineers will inspect the sites to ensure compliance with guidelines and recommend corrective actions if any violations by contractors or project proponents are identified. If dust on the road is found to be contributing to pollution, the sub-engineer can contact SWM officials to arrange for road cleaning or deploy misting machines to control dust. Additionally, sub-engineers will impose penalties for open burning of waste and collaborate with the SWM department to minimize such occurrences.
The SOP specifies that if construction sites repeatedly fail to comply with air pollution regulations during inspections, actions such as issuing show cause notices, stop work orders, or imposing penalties will be taken.
Previously, BMC mandated that contractors undertaking infrastructure projects within its jurisdiction must submit EMPs, which detail pollution sources at the site and corresponding mitigation plans. BMC officials indicated that contractors have been submitting these plans, and measures will be implemented against those who fail to comply.
BMC established monitoring squads at the ward level to oversee air pollution mitigation efforts; however, their activities were disrupted due to elections, as many employees were assigned to election duties. These squads are expected to resume their operations soon.
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