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Mumbai’s civic authorities have deployed flying squads in every ward to enforce pollution control measures.
Tough restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan or GRAP 4 have come into force in parts of Mumbai amid rising air pollution in Mumbai. Mumbai has now unfortunately joined Delhi on the list of cities with toxic air and GRAP curbs to check spiralling pollution levels.
The air quality in several areas crossed the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ thresholds. These areas include Mazgaon, Deonar, Malad, Borivali East, Chakala-Andheri East, Navy Nagar, Powai and Mulund.
Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has halted construction and dust-generating activities in these areas, and dozens of sites are being monitored. Stop-work/shutdown notices have been issued to over 50 construction sites. Small industries, including bakeries and marble-cutting units, have been asked to shift to cleaner processes or face action.
The civic authorities have deployed flying squads in every ward to enforce pollution control measures and monitor emissions. These squads comprise engineers, police personnel and GPS-tracked vehicles and are scanning areas for polluting activities.
Over the past couple of weeks, several areas in Mumbai have recorded Air Quality Index in the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories. Residents are complaining of burning eyes, breathing problems and a sore throat.
Year-round construction activities, vehicular emissions and waste burning are gradually poisoning the air in major cities. Policy measures so far have done little to address the root causes and the problem persists. Delhi has been gasping for air every winter for years now, and now Mumbai has joined the list.
