MUMBAI, Nov. 2 -- As winter approaches, Mumbai's air quality starts dipping, but the city's pollution troubles extend well beyond the winter months. Recently, the Bombay High Court referred to the pall of haze over the city as an "emergency situation", asking state authorities what they were doing to tackle it. Yet, despite repeated court directions over the years to rein in pollution of various kinds, there is little change on ground. In 2023, the high court took suo motu cognisance of Mumbai's air quality following media reports that Swiss air monitor IQAir had ranked the city as the world's seventh most polluted. According to the BMC, construction sites contribute 9% of Mumbai's pollution, while resuspended road dust accounts for 30%, industrial emissions and fossil-fuel combustion for 20%, and vehicular emissions for 14%. Last year, the court directed the BMC to implement the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan, mandating metal-sheet enclosures at construction sites, regular water sprinkling and covering construction materials. Air quality monitors were installed at the court's direction in January 2025. However, as reported by HT on October 27, readings from 3,166 monitors across 3,200 construction sites differ significantly from those on the Central Pollution Control Board's SAMEER app. The court has also issued several directions in a 2013 PIL by NGO Vanashakti over foul odours from the Kanjurmarg dumping ground, but compliance remains pending. Advocate Abhijeet P Rane, representing affected residents, said authorities act only after judicial intervention. "They deploy machinery to take precautionary measures only when the court passes orders, but that is not enough," he said, adding that CPCB notifications were vague about pollutants to be monitored. BMC chief engineer Avinash Kate said the civic body had operationalised an action plan requiring "immediate action against repetitive, non-complying sites", regular inspections, daily action reports and intensified road cleaning and washing.. Last month, the high court ordered a year-round ban on bursting firecrackers in public places, saying they contribute to "toxic air pollution". It directed the authorities to enforce decibel limits during religious processions, to take action against violators, and spread awareness on noise and air pollution. After the court noted on October 21 that the BMC and MPCB had failed to issue public notices, they appeared in newspapers a day later. "The wheels of the official machinery appear to be turning too slowly to comply even with the basic preliminary compliances as ordered," the court observed recently. It specifically mentioned the police's failure to enforce restrictions on noise pollution, particularly during religious processions. Rather, Sumaira Abdulali's Awaaz Foundation told the court that on the day of idol immersion after Navratri celebrations on October 20, they recorded noise pollution levels ranging from 82 to 110.8 decibels at four locations. Permissible levels in residential areas are 55dB in the day and 45dB at night. "Many officers are aware of the ill effects of pollution and environmental destruction, but enforcement is sporadic and depends on several factors, including the political and commercial interests of those violating court orders. More people need to learn how to complain effectively and to have their voices heard," said. Abdulali told HT Despite a 1998 Bombay High Court ruling mandating neon lights be switched off by 11 pm, a division bench recently demanded strict compliance following ongoing complaints about light pollution from floodlights and illuminated billboards in Mumbai and Thane. A 2018 order requiring Marine Drive gymkhanas to turn off floodlights after 10 pm is also reportedly violated. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Maritime Board is moving to permit bright floating billboards along the coast, threatening coastal ecosystems. The state government continues to hesitate on mandating clay over plaster of paris (PoP) for Ganesha idols. In July 2025, the High Court restricted natural water body immersions to idols over six feet, routing smaller ones to artificial tanks. However, on August 4, 2026, the state requested a three-year extension to phase out PoP, citing that idols for the year were already manufactured. HT contacted MPCB chairperson Siddhesh Kadam, PRO Sanjay Bhuskute, joint director (air pollution control) Satish Padwal, advocate Mihir Govilkar, who represents the MPCB in the Kanjurmarg dumping ground matter, and MPCB legal officer Netra Chaphekar for their comments. They either did not respond or declined to comment....