Overview
- The High Court constituted an oversight committee chaired by former CJ Amjad A. Sayed with retired Justice Anuja Prabhudessai to address pollution across Mumbai and the wider metropolitan region, including Navi Mumbai.
- The panel will review weekly ward-level reports, supervise actions by the BMC, NMMC and MPCB, meet weekly with site visits as required, and file a preliminary report by March 5 followed by monthly updates.
- The order authorizes the committee to consult experts, including IIT Bombay’s Virendra Sethi and pediatric pulmonologist Dr Indu Khosla, to incorporate technical assessments and health impacts on vulnerable groups.
- The BMC must provide office space, a vehicle, secretarial support and a nodal officer, and pay each member an honorarium of Rs 1,00,000 per sitting.
- The court cautioned that any failure to assist the panel will be treated as a breach inviting possible contempt, while recording concerns over weak MPCB enforcement, non-functioning site monitors and inadequate construction oversight.