Mon Dec 22 19:04:43 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article version of the provided text:
Summary:
The Bombay High Court is deeply concerned about Mumbai’s worsening air quality and is holding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) accountable. The court is specifically scrutinizing the construction site for the new High Court building in Bandra East, finding severe violations of pollution control norms, including lack of dust suppression, uncovered debris, unsafe storage of gas cylinders, and vehicles carrying rubble without covers. The court has ordered the municipal commissioner and the MPCB chief to appear in person to explain the situation and demonstrate how they plan to enforce pollution control measures effectively. The court fears the demolition work is exacerbating the already poor air quality in the city.
News Article:
Mumbai Air Crisis: High Court Summons Officials Over Construction Pollution
Mumbai, December 23, 2025 – The Bombay High Court has taken a firm stance on Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality, demanding answers from top municipal and environmental officials regarding pollution control failures at the construction site of the new High Court building. In a suo motu public interest litigation hearing on Monday, the court questioned whether the Bandra East plot for the new complex is contributing to the city’s poor air quality reports.
Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad reviewed a damning committee report detailing “serious lapses” at the demolition site. The inspection, conducted earlier this month, revealed a lack of dust control measures, scattered debris, uncovered transport of rubble, and unsafe storage of gas cylinders.
“Demolition work is being carried out without any barricading or dust suppression,” the report stated. “Debris is lying scattered, and vehicles transporting rubble are uncovered. Gas cylinders used for steel cutting are stored on pavements, posing safety hazards.”
The Court noted that these findings mirrored widespread non-compliance with basic pollution control measures across the city, including a lack of sprinklers, smog guns, and proper barricading at numerous construction sites. Calling it “a complete failure of enforcement,” the judges have ordered the municipal commissioner and the MPCB chief to appear in person on Tuesday, December 22, 2025, to provide explanations.
Previously, the Court had ordered strict compliance with pollution control norms and established a panel to monitor progress. On December 15th, alarm was expressed over Mumbai’s “toxic air,” with AQI levels consistently in the “poor” category. The court also wants 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 emphasized that the demolition phase of the new High Court construction cannot be allowed to worsen Mumbai’s already precarious air quality. The hearing is scheduled to resume on December 23rd.
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