India, Feb. 3 -- The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued stop work orders to 34 real estate projects across its jurisdiction for continuing to flout mandatory dust mitigation norms despite earlier warnings.

"Establishments that do not take corrective action within 15 days of notices being issued will be shut down," said PMC commissioner Mangesh Chitale. "Construction work will be halted if measures to improve air quality are not taken."

The PMC has also served notices to 151 bakeries, hotels, and restaurants, directing them to transition from coal and wood to cleaner fuels like LPG or electricity or face closure.

The crackdown was precipitated by a sharp spike in Panvel's Air Quality Index (AQI) during the last week of Januar...