Pune Municipal Corporation warns builders of levying fine if they fail to take measures against pollution

Pune: Construction is a major cause of air pollution in the city. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken measures to reduce it. It has instructed builders to adhere to the guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Developers have been told to follow the norms within eight days, after which penal action would be taken against them, warned the PMC.

This was revealed by City Chief Engineer Prashant Waghmare. Constructions have been undertaken at a large scale in suburbs such as Kothrud, Baner, Balewadi, Warje Malwadi, Karve Nagar, Dhayari, Narhe, Katraj, Ambegaon, Hadapsar, Kondhwa, Mundhwa, Kharadi, Yerwada, Vishrantwadi, Bopodi and in Peth areas of the city. Flyovers, roads and Metro railway routes are being built in areas such as Sinhagad Road, Vishrantwadi and Ganeshkhind Road.

These constructions have been producing massive dust. The PMC made it mandatory for builders last year also to reduce pollution caused by dust particles. However, many developers and construction contractors do not follow the guidelines. Consequently, dust has been polluting the air and putting citizens’ health in danger. Construction projects increasingly produce PM 2.5 dust particles, which adversely affect human health.

Prashant Waghmare said, “The Building Department of the PMC has instructed all builders, architects, construction debris transporters through emails that they should follow the PCB guidelines. They have been given a time-limit of eight days.”

Builders ignore the norms

According to the guidelines, developers are supposed to take steps to ensure that dust particles do not rise in the air. They are supposed to build 25-ft high tin sheet compounds around their projects. The under-construction part needs to be covered with green cloth, which should remain wet to prevent rising of dust. Water should be sprinkled on construction along busy thoroughfares. Debris should be covered while transporting. The rules were followed till the PMC was checking them. Later, many builders started ignoring them.