Mumbai Pollution: Why Mumbai is Facing Poor Air Quality Like Delhi

Mumbai’s air quality dipped to the ‘very poor’ category on Wednesday morning after remaining ‘poor’ and ‘moderate’ over the past few days. The state pollution control meter at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus area showed the depleting air quality levels in the financial capital, which is facing one of its most polluted Octobers, drawing parallels with Delhi — one of the most highly polluted cities in the world.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India, while the overall air quality index (AQI) in Mumbai continued to be in the ‘moderate’ category at 150 by noon, it dipped to ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ in several areas.

At Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), the AQI was recorded at 200 at 9 am, with Colaba and Borivali East reporting ‘moderate’ air quality at 151 and 141. Malad, Sion, Chembur, Deonar and Kherwadi Junction have had consistently poor AQI.

Amid deteriorating AQI, however, drizzling was reported in Mumbai and some parts of Maharashtra. The India Meteorological Department predicted thunderstorm accompanied with lightning and light spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 30 to 40 kmph in the next three to four hours, at isolated places in Mumbai districts.

To control air pollution in Mumbai, however, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has served notices to more than 100 contractors and real estate firms engaged in executing private and government projects, asking them to adhere to dust mitigation norms or face action. The Bombay High Court, too, limited fireworks between 7 pm and 10 pm for Mumbai residents during the festival of lights.

The court, however, passed an interim order for the Maharashtra government and municipal authorities in Mumbai and surrounding areas to mitigate the issue of worsening air pollution. Chief minister Eknath Shinde has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take measures to bring air pollution and dust under control in the city.

Acting on these directives, the civic body has demolished four chimneys of gold and silver smelting units in Kalbadevi and Zaveri Bazar area in South Mumbai. According to BMC officials, their C-ward took action against the units as they were compounding the worsening air pollution. They said the buildings and factories department has evicted four such smelting units on Dhanji Marg and Miza Marg in C-ward.

As part of the business of making ornaments and allied activities, gold and silver are melted in smelting units, which are mostly small-scale factories. While the precious metals are melted in a furnace, gaseous byproducts are released into the air through chimneys. When such fumes are released without scientific treatment, they pose a threat to human health.

The BMC is also cleaning nearly 650 km of road with water for dust control. It has given developers and those carrying out infrastructure work a month’s time to acquire sprinklers and fogging machines for their construction sites and also warned of stern action in case of non-compliance.

Ahead of Diwali the chief minister said the state government is making all efforts to curb rising pollution in Maharashtra and appealed for united efforts to make it happen. He said if children can make up their minds to celebrate a pollution-free Diwali, their parents will follow.

Speaking at a function after administering the pledge of ‘pollution-free Diwali’ to schoolchildren at Mantralaya, Shinde said rising pollution levels have become a cause for global concern. He added that the government has focused on planting trees while environment awareness campaigns are being conducted through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and subsidies are being given for bamboo plantation.

Here are five reasons why Mumbai air quality is worsening:

1. According to a report published by Times of India, the biggest change in Mumbai is the timing of the smog. “While smog would usually lift by 9 am to 9.30 am, it now lingers till 11 am or beyond on some days,” former member secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) Dilip Boralkar was quoted as saying.
2. While Mumbai’s PM2.5 levels are lower than Delhi and Lucknow, it has been steadily increasing since 2019. Climate change, a constant contributor to most environmental concerns, is another factor since the coastal city has been under the impression that its exposure to the Arabian Sea is its biggest saviour. But not anymore as the dip in La Nina, which is the cooling of the ocean surface and change in wind patterns, has partially caused a sudden spike in the particulate matter.
3. Municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said construction is on at 6,000 sites in the city, which could be a major reason behind the dipping air quality levels. Dust particles from roads and vehicles carrying construction debris is another factor and, hence, the BMC is using anti-smog guns on 50 to 60 major roads.
4. There is severe air pollution due to vehicular traffic in Mumbai. At least 12 lakh private vehicles are plying across the city on a daily basis. “Our roads have been halved, vehicles crawl as a result and take double the time to reach their destination,” senior pulmonologist Dr Sanjeev Mehta told TOI.
5. Experts said cooking oil used in multiple restaurants and eateries can emit ultrafine particles, including oil droplets. Such condensed organic compounds produce nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde in high concentrations, which can be harmful to health and also contribute to worsening air quality.