Mumbai: There have been multiple reports recently, both, by the NGOs and government institutions on the increasing PM10 levels that arise from dust pollution, across the country. Mumbai’s annual average air quality in terms of PM10 was recorded at 130 in 2016, but experts from the Greenpeace India have asserted that it is high for a coastal city. A report by Greenpeace India highlighted that there has been a slight increase of the particulate matter in the Mumbai during 2015-2016.
Mumbai recorded the highest monthly average in Maharashtra with PM10 values remaining more than three times above the annual limit during December 2016. The city’s 19 million population is at severe health risk from the polluted air. “The sea breeze acts a natural cleanser for the air quality and helps to bring down the pollution levels. Despite that if the levels are more than the standard limits, there is something wrong with the air quality of the city, especially when the other coastal cities in the south have satisfactory PM10 levels,” said Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner, Greenpeace India.
The Asian Age has earlier reported that Mumbai needs to reduce the pollution in terms of PM10 levels by 85 per cent to meet up the standard limit. Experts opined that the city’s green cover needs to be preserved and infrastructure projects need to be planned accordingly. “Like the CPCB action plan, Mumbai also needs green buffers in the traffic areas. There should be implementation of NGT order for construction work like tarpaulin covers and regular watering at construction sites,” Mr Dahiya said.
“There needs to be a focus on economical value of trees and the health of the city’s population. Why is there no consideration to the carbon footprints that decade old trees can consume before cutting them for such projects,” said Stalin Dayanand, project director, Vanashakti.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has stated that the city’s road and traffic management needs improvement. “Ours is the only state that has started drafting an action plan to curb air pollution. The draft plans for many cities including Mumbai are ready. We will also consult environment experts on the issue when it is released in March,” said
P. Anbalagan, member secretary, MPCB.
