Mumbai: The BMC has decided to lower the height rule for tin sheets at construction sites from the proposed 35 feet to 25 feet after much back and forth following requests from several developers and architects over concerns about structural stability of the sheets.The BMC guidelines issued on October 25 had stated that all project proponents must ensure at least 35-foot-high tin metal sheets are erected around construction projects that are more than 70 meters in height. On Monday, though, Minish Pimple, deputy municipal commissioner, environment, said : “A formal order in this regard is still to be issued but it has been decided that the tin sheets’ height will be reduced to 25 feet. Above that height, we are suggesting placing a green cloth instead.” Architect Shirish Sukhatme, former president of PEATA, highlighted the current on-site challenges where most buildings have limited space between the basement and plot boundary. “Erecting a tall sheet requires substantial foundation space, facing significant lateral pressure. Considerations must extend to wind load, adjacent traffic and worker safety. The sheet’s sturdiness is crucial to preventing life-threatening incidents. Additionally, the mandated green cloth, while meeting the regulations, intensifies heat within the confined workspace, posing difficulties to workers,” said Suktame. Meanwhile, a meeting was held on Monday along with different government authorities where the BMC proposed that Mhada, SRA and MMRDA establish flying squads of their own to monitor construction site violations listed by the civic body on October 25. “SRA authorities said they have already started issuing stop-work notices to construction sites not adhering to air pollution guidelines. “We have also requested them to keep monitoring the sites regularly so that the measures laid out are continuously followed,” he told a BMC official. So far, the BMC has issued 343 stop-work notices to projects found breaching air pollution mitigation guidelines, with most of them located in K-East (Andheri East) and H-East (Kalina and Vakola) wards so far. Officials said during Monday’s meeting, ward officers were told to act strictly and if required even register a police complaint in case a developer does not discontinue the works despite being served with a stop-work notice.
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