Pune: PMC Mandates Sensor-Based Air Quality Monitoring at Construction Sites
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 25th February 2026: Amid rising air pollution levels in several cities across Maharashtra due to PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, the state government has issued fresh guidelines to curb dust emissions, particularly from construction sites. In line with directives issued by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board on November 2, 2023, under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, installation of sensor-based air quality monitoring systems at construction sites has been made mandatory.
Following these directions, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) issued a circular on December 15, 2025, mandating the installation of air quality monitoring systems at ongoing construction projects across the city. The move aims to control dust pollution and safeguard public health.
To discuss implementation and mitigation measures, a workshop titled “Air Pollution Control and Mitigation Measures in the Construction Sector” was held on Tuesday. The event was jointly organised by PMC’s City Engineer’s office, the Environment Department, World Resources Institute (WRI) India, and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pashan.
The workshop was attended by Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Leader of the House Ganesh Bidkar, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, Additional Municipal Commissioners Prithviraj B.P. and Pavneet Kaur, City Engineer Aniruddha Pawaskar, Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner (Environment) Kishori Shinde, Environmental Conservation Officer Ganesh Sonune, CREDAI Pune representative Tejraj Patil, and members of NAREDCO Pune and the Marathi Builders Association, along with municipal engineers and other officials.
In her inaugural address, the Mayor stressed the need for coordinated efforts across sectors to combat air pollution. She urged citizens to increase the use of public transport and called upon builders to actively support dust control initiatives. She described the sensor-based monitoring system as an innovative initiative and stated that PMC is among the first municipal corporations to implement such a measure for construction-related pollution control. The air quality monitoring system was formally unveiled during the event.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram noted that rapid urbanisation in Pune has led to a surge in construction activities, contributing significantly to air pollution. Citing a 2022 report by ARAI, he said the construction sector accounts for nearly 23 percent of PM10 dust emissions. He added that pollution in Pune stems from multiple sources, including vehicular traffic, construction activities, and road dust, and assured that necessary measures would be taken to keep air quality under control.
Officials explained that real-time data generated through the sensor-based system will be integrated into PMC’s monitoring framework. Construction sites reporting high levels of PM10 and PM2.5 will be flagged immediately, enabling authorities to conduct inspections and enforce corrective measures. PMC and WRI India have been working together over the past two years on strategies to reduce urban air pollution.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj B.P. elaborated on the system’s functioning, stating that data collected through sensors would be centrally monitored by the civic administration to ensure continuous oversight.
Tejraj Patil of CREDAI Pune expressed support for the civic body’s pollution control measures and assured cooperation from developers. Sanjay Deshpande of the Marathi Builders Association emphasised the need for consistent implementation of dust mitigation measures and suggested that the monitoring system be installed at both large and small construction sites.
Deputy Commissioner (Environment) Kishori Shinde concluded the programme by thanking all participants and stakeholders for their cooperation in addressing air pollution in the city.
