The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has stopped demolition work at a site in Lokhandwala, Andheri (West), and imposed a Rs 35,000 penalty after finding multiple violations of air pollution mitigation guidelines. The action followed complaints from residents about severe dust spreading through the neighbourhood and the crowded Lokhandwala market area.
The K/West ward office issued the stop-work notice to M/s D. G. S. Land Developer (India) Pvt Ltd on October 19, a day after the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association shared a video showing dust generated during demolition work on Saturday morning. Residents said the pollution was affecting people living nearby as well as pedestrians.
The notice was issued under Section 354A of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. According to the civic body, the site is located at the junction of Main Road and First Cross Road in Apna Ghar Complex, Oshiwara, Andheri (West). Assistant municipal commissioner of the K/West ward, Chakrapani Alle, confirmed the notice and penalty.
The violations listed by the BMC include inadequate covering of construction materials and debris, and the storage of loose soil and debris on footpaths and roads. The civic body also cited the absence of an effective dust-extraction system using appropriate air pollution control technology.
The notice further flagged uncovered grinding, cutting, drilling and other construction activities, along with the absence of a vehicle tyre-washing facility. These measures are part of the prescribed safeguards intended to limit dust from demolition and construction work, particularly at sites adjoining roads, footpaths and busy public areas.
Dhaval Shah of the citizens’ association said the group’s complaint to the BMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board sought intervention because inadequate dust suppression could worsen air quality and pose health risks to senior citizens, children and people with respiratory ailments. “This building is located in the main Lokhandwala market which sees huge crowds and developers need to be cautious to take dust suppression measures,” Shah said.
The BMC directed the developer to stop work immediately and warned that further legal action would follow if the directions were not complied with. It also asked Oshiwara police to monitor the location and remove personnel engaged in the work to ensure compliance with the notice. The notice was sent to the senior police inspector of Oshiwara police station.
The civic body said the action was necessary because the developer and architect had failed to follow the prescribed air pollution mitigation measures. The developer was contacted for a response but had not replied, according to the report.
