India, Oct. 20 -- A neighbourhood covered in dust, demolition debris crashing onto the pavement, and citizens who waged a battle against an errant developer -- and emerged triumphant. Residents of the Apna Ghar locality in Andheri (west) felt vindicated when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a stop-work notice to DGS Land Developer (India) Pvt Ltd for multiple violations of air pollution mitigation guidelines during the demolition of the ten-storey Kamdhenu Society in Oshiwara on Monday.

The notice, issued by the BMC's K-West ward, directs the developer to stop work immediately. Citing the state government's air pollution mitigation guidelines, the notice lists eight violations. It states that the site lacked a function...