India, Dec. 25 -- The Bombay High Court on Wednesday reprimanded the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for turning a blind eye towards worsening air pollution in the city and not taking any effective measures to mitigate the problem. The court warned the civic body that it would pass orders restraining it from granting any further permissions for construction if the condition did not improve.

The bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad asked how the civic body had approved more than 125 construction projects, worth over Rs.1,000 crore, in a crowded city like Mumbai.

"How can 125 projects worth over Rs.1,000 crore be sanctioned in such a small city," the judges asked, "That is a lot. Now the situation...