What the PMC circular of 15 December 2025 requires — and how citizens can use it to hold dusty construction sites accountable.
On 15 December 2025, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), through the Additional Municipal Commissioner (Estate), issued a circular making sensor-based air quality monitoring mandatory at large construction sites. It applies to all private and public residential, commercial and infrastructure projects within PMC limits with a built-up area of 5,000 sq m or more. Early-2026 reporting indicates the threshold is being tightened toward 1,000 sq m.
The rule was issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and directions of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Its purpose is to control dust — a 2022 ARAI study found construction contributes roughly 23% of Pune's PM10 dust emissions.
The public board on every large site shows one of four colours, based on the 15-minute running average of PM10. This is the citizen's at-a-glance signal that a site's dust is out of control:
Normal operations. Routine dust control (green nets, sprinklers).
Increase water sprinkling; check dust sources; monitor closely.
Intensify suppression; slow or pause dust-generating activity.
Stop dust-generating work immediately until levels drop.
PM10 values in µg/m³ (15-minute running average).
| Requirement | PMC specification |
|---|---|
| Parameters | AQI, PM2.5, PM10, Temperature, Humidity |
| Measurement range | 0–1000 µg/m³ |
| Accuracy | R² > 0.7 vs reference-grade monitor (validated at IITM Pashan) |
| Response time | 10 seconds |
| Data access | Real-time API to PMC Command & Control Centre |
| Local backup | Minimum 6 months |
| Enclosure | IP65-rated weatherproof |
| Connectivity | Real-time transmission via GSM/4G |
Non-compliance invites show-cause notices, stop-work orders, and penalties, with legal proceedings possible under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Enforcement is active: in a December 2024 precursor drive, PMC issued 158 notices and 91 stop-work orders across the city.
PMC already runs an API-fed Command & Control Centre for construction dust — the same real-time, data-driven model MyAQI.org uses for citizen air quality. Together, official construction-site data and hyperlocal citizen readings paint the fullest possible picture of Pune's air. Every MyAQI.org monitor on a balcony adds a data point that helps hold polluters — including dusty sites — accountable.
Details on this page are compiled from PMC's circular dated 15.12.2025, its Annexures A/B/C, approved-vendor compliance documentation, and press reporting. Figures such as the built-up-area threshold and the approved-sensor list are periodically updated by PMC — always verify against the official circular at pmc.gov.in before acting. This page is provided by MyAQI.org for public awareness and is not legal advice.