As Mumbai faces a rising Air Quality Index (AQI), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced new measures to combat worsening air quality in the city. The BMC’s new guidelines come as the city’s AQI readings have shown a steady increase, with suburban areas like Malad recording an AQI of 227, considered “poor” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
On Monday, Mumbai’s overall AQI stood at 135, categorized as moderate, although the average AQI over the past week has been above 190. Multiple areas, including Deonar, Govandi, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), and Sewri, also recorded poor AQI levels earlier last week. According to the CPCB, AQI readings between 101-200 are deemed moderate, while readings between 201-300 are considered poor.
To address the situation, the BMC has mandated that officials from all 26 municipal wards submit weekly reports on solid waste management (SWM) and dust mitigation efforts. The new guidelines also call for enhanced road cleaning, including mechanical sweeping and daily water sprinkling to control dust. Assistant engineers in each ward will monitor compliance and report back on inspections, actions taken, and improvements seen.
Additionally, the BMC has enforced measures to regulate construction debris transportation, requiring that vehicles carrying such debris be covered to prevent spillage. Penalties will be imposed on vehicles found violating these rules.
Environmental experts like Bhagwan Kesbhat, founder of the NGO Waatavaran, have suggested that the BMC needs to expand its focus beyond Mumbai’s borders. Kesbhat pointed out that industrial emissions from Mumbai’s satellite districts also contribute significantly to poor air quality, with pollutants like carbon and nitrogen dioxide reacting to form harmful particulate matter, such as PM 2.5 and PM 10. These particles are trapped in the lower atmosphere due to cooler temperatures, exacerbating the city’s AQI.
As the BMC rolls out these measures, experts are calling for broader regional coordination to address the external factors impacting Mumbai’s air quality.
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