Over 650 citizens from across Mumbai have written to
Brihanmumbai Corporation (BMC) head Iqbal Singh Chahal to express their displeasure with the city's rising air pollution. Throughout the last several weeks, Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) has been hovering around the "poor" to "very bad" category, making it one of the most polluted cities in India. Residents have chosen to take matters into their own hands and write to the BMC about the city's worsening AQI. They have requested the BMC to halt or restrict building operations in the city, among other ideas such as halting tree removal and watering roadways.
"During Covid days we led the way in controlling the condition and saved lives. Today, lives that may have been saved are being lost! "It's all due to corporate and administrative carelessness, as well as a concentration on the erroneous beliefs about development," the letter stated. The decision comes a day after Mumbai's AQI improved gradually, moving from the 'poor' to the moderate category in only 24 hours. On Wednesday, the BMC conducted a high-level meeting with its top executives at its headquarters.
The meeting decided that the civic body would implement several measures to improve Mumbai's air quality, including the installation of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in Sewri, Ghatkopar, Govandi, Charkop in Kandivali, and Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udhyan at Byculla Zoo. According to city officials, the new air purification stations will be operational by May 15, 2023. This month, the local body will also issue tenders for the installation of air purifiers in Haji Ali, Mankhurd, Kalanagar, Dahisar, and Mulund. In addition, the BMC will purchase 200 mobile air-purifier trucks, which will aid in the reduction of dust particles created by roadways and building sites.
