MUMBAI PRESS — The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Saturday, October 3, 2026, that the Southwest Monsoon has withdrawn from parts of Maharashtra, as well as the remaining regions of North India, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.

The current withdrawal line of the Southwest Monsoon passes through Harnai, Baramati, Parbhani, and Brahmapuri in Maharashtra, extending northeastward through Raipur, Ranchi, and Supaul. Weather officials stated that conditions are favorable for further retreat from most parts of Marathwada, Vidarbha, and additional areas of Madhya Maharashtra over the next 2 to 3 days.

Hot and Humid Stretch for Coastal Maharashtra
Residents in the coastal belt should prepare for elevated discomfort over the weekend. The IMD has issued a hot and humid weather warning for Konkan & Goa prevailing from October 3 through October 5.
Following this dry and muggy stretch, mild weather activity is expected to return to the region. Isolated to scattered rainfall is forecast across Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra between October 6 and October 9.

Southern and Northeastern Forecast
While monsoon forces retreat from central and northern parts of India, southern states are bracing for heavy downpours. Isolated heavy rainfall is predicted over Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal from October 4 to October 6, with South Interior Karnataka expected to receive heavy spells on October 5 and 6.

In the northeast, isolated heavy rainfall is expected to continue over Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh through October 3.

Advisory for Fishermen
Due to lower-tropospheric cyclonic circulations over the Arabian Sea, the IMD has urged fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Kerala coast, Lakshadweep, Maldives, and the Comorin area on October 3. Farmers in heavy rainfall zones have also been advised to ensure proper field drainage and move harvested crops to covered storage to prevent crop damage.

To curb air pollution in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formulated the ‘Air Pollution Control and Implementation Action Plan-2026’. The objective of this plan is to implement effective measures against various sources of pollution and take strict action against violators.

Under the guidance of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, and Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Assistant Commissioners of all administrative wards have been directed to implement the ‘Air Pollution Control and Implementation Action Plan-2026’.

Under this action plan, at least 10 air pollution hotspots will be identified in each administrative ward, and an updated list accompanied by maps will be prepared. These hotspots will include major construction and redevelopment projects, infrastructure works, sites of open waste burning, debris dumping grounds, and traffic congestion zones. A designated officer will be appointed for each hotspot to ensure regular monitoring.

Controlling Pollution at Construction Sites
The existing 28-point guidelines for construction and demolition sites will be strictly enforced. Construction sites found violating these norms will be issued ‘show-cause’ and ‘stop-work’ notices; if necessary, action will also be taken to seal the premises. Each inspection team has been directed to inspect at least two construction sites daily. During demolition work, the installation of proper barricades, covering the site with tarpaulins or green netting, and continuous fine water spraying will be mandatory.

Special cleaning drive to reduce road dust:
A ‘Post-Monsoon Deep Cleaning Drive’ will be conducted during the first and second weeks of October to remove the soil, mud, and dust that accumulated on roads following the monsoon. Special cleaning operations will be carried out on major roads, medians, intersections, and road shoulders. Where necessary, roads will be washed with recycled water or treated with a fine water spray.

It is now mandatory for developers or contractors to keep adjacent roads clean in proportion to the size of the construction site. Roads must be kept clean for a distance of up to 100 meters for projects up to 4,000 square meters, up to 200 meters for projects between 4,000 and 10,000 square meters, and up to 500 meters on both sides for projects larger than 10,000 square meters. Regulations for Debris-Carrying Vehicles
Vehicles transporting debris from construction and demolition activities must be fully covered, and their wheels must be cleaned before entering public roads. The transportation and disposal of debris will be managed through the ‘Mumbai Debris Control and Tracking System’ (MDCTS). Instructions have also been issued to ensure that concrete or other materials do not spill onto roads from ‘Ready-Mix Concrete’ (RMC) vehicles.

Open Burning of Waste and Vehicular Pollution
Strict action will be taken against the open burning of waste across Mumbai. Such incidents will be monitored by ward-level marshals and CCTV surveillance systems. Furthermore, special ‘PUC’ (Pollution Under Control) inspection drives will be conducted on major traffic routes and high-congestion areas, and action will be taken against vehicles emitting visible smoke, in accordance with regulations.

Additional Measures in Case of Rising Air Quality Index (AQI)
The Air Quality Index will be continuously monitored, and measures under the ‘Graded Response Action Plan’ (GRAP) will be implemented based on the situation. If the AQI exceeds 200, measures such as deep cleaning, road washing (where necessary), water sprinkling, misting, and a strict ban on open waste burning will be enforced in the affected areas. Arrangements have also been made to halt polluting activities within a 2-kilometer radius of a monitoring station if the AQI remains above 300 for three consecutive days.

To ensure Mumbai’s air remains clean and eco-friendly, the implementation of this comprehensive action plan will be regularly reviewed at the ward level. Furthermore, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Dr. Avinash Dhakne has directed that necessary precautionary and enforcement measures be taken against major sources of air pollution.

Mumbai: Voters in Bhiwandi launched a signature campaign on Friday demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The campaign is being led by Rais Shaikh, the Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East. MLA Rais Shaikh stated that a memorandum bearing the signatures of hundreds of thousands of citizens would be submitted to the Governor.

Providing details, MLA Rais Shaikh said the signature campaign began today after Friday prayers at 56 locations across Bhiwandi East. Separate arrangements have been made for male and female voters to sign. The campaign, conducted by Samajwadi Party workers, received an overwhelming response on its very first day. This signature campaign against Gyanesh Kumar will continue for the next eight days.

A Samajwadi Party delegation will meet Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan and submit a memorandum containing the signatures of hundreds of thousands of Bhiwandi voters, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. MLA Rais Shaikh reported that approximately 30,000 voters signed the petition across the 56 centers on the first day alone.

The irregularities discovered during the ‘Special and Intensive Revision’ (SIR) of voter lists are a serious matter; during this process, the names of 120 million (12 crore) voters across the country were deleted. Major irregularities have been found in the ‘ERO-Net’ system regarding the process of name modification and deletion. Over the past ten months, two Election Commissioners have raised objections to Gyanesh Kumar’s working methods on 14 separate occasions. MLA Rais Shaikh stated that Gyanesh Kumar has acted to benefit the ruling BJP and has no right to remain in his position.