Bhopal: City's Air Turns Unhealthy, Construction Sites Skip Dust Control Measures

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Construction work in the city is going on at full throttle this summer, ignoring directives from the MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) to control pollution levels by sprinkling water and using green mesh to cover construction sites.

On Tuesday, Bhopal’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 160, which falls in the ‘Unhealthy’ category. At this level, people who are active outdoors may experience respiratory issues.

This air quality is particularly risky for sensitive groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions.

PM10 concentration in the city has breached the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit of 60 µg/m³. PM10 and PM2.5—which refer to different sizes of particulate matter in the air—stood at 111 µg/m³ and 33 µg/m³ respectively.

When inhaled, PM10 (particles of 10 micrometers) can enter the respiratory tract and cause respiratory issues, eye irritation, and other health problems. The primary sources of PM10 are construction activities, industrial emissions, and dust.

According to National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms, construction sites must implement dust control measures, including barricading the area, using green mesh dust barriers, and sprinkling water to suppress dust and prevent it from dispersing into the air.

The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) admitted that pollution control guidelines are being followed in urban areas, but are often ignored at construction sites on the city’s outskirts.

President of New Colonies Welfare Association, Sunil Upadhayay said “Hardly any construction site along Hoshangabad Road is barricaded or covered with a dust barrier".

He added "No green nets are seen at any site to prevent dust from escaping into the atmosphere. Similarly, water sprinkling to suppress dust is also not being done.”

Green activist, Rashid Noor Khan said “The absence of green nets at construction sites contributes to air pollution and violates environmental regulations. Green mesh is designed to prevent dust and debris from escaping into the air, thereby protecting workers, pedestrians, and the environment.”

President of CREDAI Bhopal unit, Manoj Singh Meek said “Builders should ensure barricading, use of green nets, and regular sprinkling of water at construction sites to check pollution. In urban areas, pollution norms are being followed as locals raise voice, but on the outskirts, compliance with such directives is hardly monitored.”