Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has called for policy measures to encourage the use of precast and steel construction techniques as a way to reduce dust pollution generated by traditional on-site construction practices. Speaking at an event in Malad West, Mumbai, Mr. Goyal emphasised that dust from reinforced concrete (RC) mixing and related activities is a significant contributor to poor air quality in urban areas such as Mumbai.
Addressing a gathering of business leaders and housing society representatives ahead of the January 15 municipal corporation elections, Mr. Goyal noted that many countries worldwide favour building with precast components and steel frameworks, which reduce on-site mixing and associated dust emissions. He acknowledged that these methods may be more expensive initially but proposed exploring concessions and incentives with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to promote their adoption in India.
To cut down pollution right away, Mr. Goyal also suggested relocating RC mixers out of densely populated city areas and pointed out that he had already taken steps to remove several mixers from his own parliamentary constituency. He stressed that collaboration and consensus with builders on adopting cleaner construction methods would be more effective than imposing mandatory restrictions.
In addition to construction sector reforms, Mr. Goyal highlighted the need to earmark public grounds specifically for religious, cultural, and sports events, which he said would help manage space usage more effectively in cities.
He framed his comments within the context of local civic issues, consciously steering clear of international topics such as the ongoing European Union-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations, reflecting the municipal focus of the gathering.
