The Bombay High Court on Tuesday harshly criticised the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for failing to protect construction workers from dangerous air pollution. The court said collecting data alone is pointless without real action. Hearing a public interest case on Mumbai’s worsening air, Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar asked, “How do you safeguard the health of workers? Are there guidelines? At least give them masks. Don’t they have a right to health?” The court warned Mumbai could face a crisis like Delhi if authorities ignore pollution rules. It criticised officials for focusing only on Air Quality Index monitoring rather than fixing issues onsite. BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said he had made surprise visits only twice recently. Officials claimed to issue 433 show-cause notices and 148 stop-work orders to violators, but the court found large-scale non-compliance during site checks. Only one site near Mumbai airport properly followed rules. The court demanded health advisories for children and elderly during high pollution, questioning the lack of coordination between state bodies. Amicus curiae Darius Khambata flagged serious violations at major projects and noted over 1,900 construction sites in Mumbai but less than 600 have air quality monitors, with some sensors unlinked. He urged strict enforcement of water fogging, debris covers, sensors, and protective gear as law, not mere guidelines. MPCB counsel Ashutosh Kumbhakoni said enforcement claims need verification. The court said, “We see with open eyes that many construction sites ignore guidelines. By tomorrow, we want to know how you will protect workers.” The hearing is adjourned to December 24, with the court ready to sit even during vacations if needed.