The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it will increase the fine for open waste burning from Rs 100 to Rs 1000 from April 1, 2025. BMC is aiming to curb air pollution and promote environmental awareness with this move. Teams at the ward level will monitor and prevent the burning of waste in open spaces, said BMC. Each team will have a Junior Supervisor from the Solid Waste Management Department, a Nuisance Detector (ND Staff), and a Mukadam. The Brihanmumbai Sanitation and Health Bye-Laws, 2006, are framed under Section 462 (EE) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888. Actions regarding solid waste management are taken under this act.
Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, along with Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. (Mrs.) Ashwini Joshi are taking charge and guiding other officials in the BMC to reinforce public compliance with waste disposal regulations.
Open waste burning releases harmful gases and particulate matter, which severely degrades air quality and increases respiratory illnesses, according to Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar. The government imposed the Rs 1,000 charge since infractions persisted in spite of earlier fines. In open plots, building sites, and roadside locations, where dried leaves and mixed trash are routinely burned, open burning is widely seen. Mumbai's air quality will be protected, and such actions will be discouraged by the new penalties.
In addition to immediately punishing violators, the enforcement teams will also participate in public awareness campaigns to encourage environmental preservation. All residents are urged by the BMC to abide by the new rules and help create a cleaner, healthier Mumbai.
Also Read: Mumbai Monsoon Season 2025: BMC Accelerates Drain Cleaning, Deadline Set for May 31
Apart from air, BMC is also cleaning water bodies. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began desilting the city's major and small drains on March 25, 2025, as part of its pre-monsoon preparations. To guarantee effectiveness and openness, the BMC has begun to continuously monitor drain desilting activities. Junior and assistant engineers have been instructed by Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar to stay on-site full-time to supervise the job. The goal is to finish the desilting procedure by May 31, 2025.
Today, Bangar inspected drain-cleaning efforts in the eastern suburbs, stopping at important sites like the DAV College Drain in Bhandup, the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road culvert, the Mankhurd Drain, the Deonar Drain, and the Laxmi Baug Drain. He observed a large buildup of solid trash during the examination, especially plastic, which impedes water movement and causes water logging during periods of intense precipitation. He gave the order to install floating rubbish booms and high mesh barriers at key sites to stop this.