Air quality in Mumbai worsens, Centre to send a team to state: report

Mumbai: Deteriorating air quality plagues India’s the economic hub, Mumbai too, with Air Quality Index (AQI) consistently remaining moderate to poor category (150-200), according to NDTV.

The situation has been worsening in recent months raising concerns about concomitant health issues among city’s swarming residents.

Now the Centre has sought details of the state government’s efforts to improve the air quality, ahead of sending a team to the state to assess the situation.

Worsening air quality is linked to a variety of health issues including respiratory infections, heart disease, and cancer.

The PM2.5 levels in the city have shot up since 2019 hitting 54.2% jump in 2020 followed by marginal declines in 2021 and 2022.

However, subsequently there came about a sharp spike of 42.1 per cent in 2023.

Remember, PM2.5 particles could get deep into the lungs causing various health problems.

In the face of the crisis, The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken measures including issuing notices to builders and contractors for violating air pollution rules.

Notices were issued to those involved in the major works including the ₹ 6,000 crore Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project.

The city authorities’ plans to tackle the situation includes fitting air filters on 350 BEST buses, setting up virtual chimneys at traffic spots, air purification systems in select gardens and installing special streetlights, according to the report.

Alongside placing an order for 30 sprinkler-mounted vehicles, authorities asked industries to increase the height of their chimneys.

The national capital Delhi has long been facing the hardship of worsening air quality reporting for the fifth day today an AQI of over 400.