Why the City Has Enforced GRAP-4

Mumbai has enforced the strictest Mumbai environmental restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) as air quality in several parts of the city touched ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ levels. The financial capital has now joined Delhi in facing alarming levels of toxic air, prompting immediate action from civic authorities.

Why Mumbai Environmental Restrictions Are Now Necessary ?

A sudden spike in pollution across Mazgaon, Deonar, Malad, Borivali East, Andheri East (Chakala), Navy Nagar, Powai, and Mulund has forced the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to activate Mumbai environmental restrictions under GRAP-4. With rising complaints of burning eyes, breathing difficulty, and throat irritation, experts say urgent intervention was unavoidable.

What GRAP-4 Means for Mumbai:

Under the newly imposed Mumbai environmental restrictions, the BMC has halted all construction and dust-generating activities in the worst-affected zones. Over 50 construction sites have already received shutdown notices.

Industries Under Scrutiny

Small industrial units—bakeries, marble-cutting workshops, and similar polluting establishments—have been instructed to switch to cleaner processes or face strict penalties.

Enforcement Measures Tighten Across the City

Flying squads equipped with GPS-tracked vehicles, engineers, and police personnel are patrolling each ward to ensure compliance with Mumbai environmental restrictions. These teams are monitoring construction zones, industrial emissions, and waste-burning hotspots.

Rising AQI Levels Trigger Public Anger

Over the past two weeks, Mumbai has consistently recorded AQI levels in the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories. Celebrities such as Vir Das, Soni Razdan, and Varun Grover have taken to social media to express their frustration and demand immediate action.

Political Response — Mumbai Clean Air Action Plan

The Mumbai Congress has proposed a Clean Air Action Plan, demanding:

• Recognising clean air as a fundamental right

• 24×7 surveillance of polluting activities

• Planting 1 million trees

• Stricter rules for vehicles, industries, and construction

This proposal aligns with the broader framework of Mumbai environmental restrictions now in force.

A Wake-Up Call for India’s Metro Cities

Experts warn that year-round construction, increasing vehicle pressure, and unchecked waste burning are poisoning urban air across India. Mumbai’s slide into toxic air levels mirrors Delhi’s years-long struggle with winter pollution.

Municipal Commissioner Dr Bhushan Gagrani recently stated that GRAP-4 restrictions would be enforced if Mumbai’s AQI crosses 200 for three consecutive days — a threshold the city has now breached.