Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation: BMC Scraps ₹40 Crore Plan To Buy 100 Dust Suction Machines

Mumbai: Under its measures to combat air pollution in the city, the BMC had planned to procure 100 state of art dust suction machines, for which Rs 40 crore were allocated in the FY 25-26 budget. However, the plan has been scrapped as the proposal did not recieve final sanction from the BMC commissioner.

"We had completed the tendering procedures and finalised the procurement of the small dust suction machines from IIT Kanpur. However, the commissioner said the machines are not immediately required and the proposal was not sanctioned. As of now the plan to have the dust suction machines has been cancelled," a senior BMC officer said. However, the officer didn't not clarify if the proposal will be carried forward in the next year or scrapped permanently.

The machines were aimed at cleaning dust on the roads in Mumbai, specially roadside dust and dust near the construction sites. With the extensive construction activities underway across the city, the flying dust is major reason for deteriorating air quality.

The dust suction machines were supposed to battery-operated, an environmentally friendly feature that will significantly reduce operational costs.

Meanwhile, considering the amount of dust generated in the city, the BMC has decided to sweep all roads twice a day, morning and evening, till June. The activity will be done on experiment basis, and civic body will spend about Rs 19 crore additionally on engaging contract workers to carry out sweeping in the evening.