A central government team is set to visit Mumbai in order to evaluate the city’s air quality and the efforts being made by the Maharashtra government to improve it. The decision for this visit came after the Centre sent a letter to the state government requesting information on the measures being taken to address the city’s air pollution.
Over the past few months, Mumbai has experienced a decline in air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) consistently falling within the moderate to poor category (150-200). This has raised concerns about the health of the city’s residents as exposure to such levels of air pollution can lead to various health issues, including respiratory infections, heart disease, and cancer.
In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken action by issuing notices to builders and contractors, including those involved in the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project, a major project valued at around Rs 6,000 crore, for violating air pollution control regulations.
Since 2019, PM2.5 levels in Mumbai have seen a significant increase, with a 54.2% rise in 2020, followed by slight declines in 2021 and 2022, and a sharp spike of 42.1% in 2023. PM2.5 particles are microscopic and can deeply penetrate the lungs, causing health problems.
To combat this concerning trend, city authorities have developed a comprehensive plan that includes equipping 350 BEST buses with vehicle-mounted air filters, installing virtual chimneys at congested traffic areas, implementing special streetlights, and installing air purification systems in selected gardens.
Additionally, the city has procured 30 vehicles equipped with sprinklers, and industries have been instructed to increase the height of their chimneys.
Meanwhile, Delhi and other parts of northern India continue to face severe air pollution. For the fifth consecutive day, the national capital has reported an AQI exceeding 400, while being enveloped in a dense and toxic haze.
