As Mumbai's air quality declines, the BMC implements pollution prevention strategies

 As Mumbai's air quality declines, the BMC implements pollution prevention strategies

According to statistics from the Central Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai was reported as bad today at several locations with an AQI over 200 around 6 am.

The Central Pollution Control Board reported that the air quality at Bandra station was bad with an AQI of 210. With an AQI of 229, Malad West station similarly registered poor air quality. With an AQI of 144, Borivali East station reported average air quality. The AQI of Chakala-Andheri East station was 246, which is considered to be bad. An AQI of 144 was observed at the Worli station, which is considered moderate. With an AQI of 207 in the bad range, the Mazgaon station reported poor air quality.

In response to Mumbai's declining air quality, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a warning on October 21 that it will cease building activity at all sites if dust and pollution control measures were not put in place. According to a BMC press release, standards or standard operating procedures for guaranteeing improved air quality will be released by October 23.

According to a formal announcement, the city's municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said that there were over 6,000 building sites under way. 

To discuss the worrying levels of air pollution in the city, Chahal invited stakeholders to a meeting. He administers the civic organization. "At all these places (where construction is taking place), dust- and pollution-control measures should be put into place," the BMC announcement read. Construction, whether it be for the government or the commercial sector, will halt if not.

During the meeting, Chahal put forth a number of proposals, including fencing off construction sites with 35-foot-tall iron sheet barriers, covering unfinished buildings with green cloth or jute sheets, installing sprinkler systems at construction sites within 15 days, and distributing anti-smog weapons within 30 days. 

The municipal organization also intends to use anti-smog weapons on busy roadways. Refineries, the Tata power plant, and the RCF facility in the city will all have their pollution levels verified by experts from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and BMC. not satisfy these criteria.