Meeting held in the month of November 2024

On November 7, 2024, a crucial meeting was held with Shri Avinash Dhakne (IAS), Member Secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), to address the pressing issue of Air Quality Index (AQI) and its environmental impact, particularly in relation to the real estate sector. The meeting was attended by Shri Dhaval Ajmera (Hon. Secretary), Shri Keval Valambhia (Chief Operations Officer), Shri Harish Gupta (Assistant General Manager), and Shri Sanjay Phope (Senior Executive).

The Maharashtra Environment Department has recently taken significant steps to monitor air quality levels across Mumbai by installing AQI meters in every suburb and locality. Under new regulations, if the AQI in any area exceeds the critical threshold of 200, all construction activities in that region will be mandated to cease.

CREDAI-MCHI raised an important concern during the meeting, noting that pollution levels are not solely driven by construction activities but are also significantly influenced by infrastructure development. However, they are now come up with the harsh precautionary measures.

As a proactive approach, CREDAI-MCHI has issued an advisory to its members, urging them to voluntarily adopt the precautionary measures outlined by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and MPCB. These guidelines are designed to help mitigate the environmental impact of construction activities, ensure compliance with air quality regulations, and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment for Mumbai’s residents.