Mumbai: BMC To Roll Back Plan To Remove 9-Inch Soil Layer At Shivaji Park After Expert Recommendations On Dust Pollution Control

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to roll back its plan to remove a 9-inch soil layer from Shivaji Park to address the dust menace.

“In the latest meeting held with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the IIT-Bombay experts team formed specially to guide the authorities on solutions to control the dust pollution at Shivaji Park, suggested that removing the layer of soil will not be a permanent solution and the process itself can lead to more dust flying,” a senior BMC officer said.

The MPCB had issued a notice to BMC last year to address the issue of dust pollution in the Dadar, Shivaji Park area. The BMC’s G-North ward later mooted a proposal to remove the 3 to 12-inch soil layer, depending upon the ground-level, (an average of 9-inch soil layer) to control the flying dust.

The BMC had dumped a thick layer of red soil on the historic Shivaji Park five years ago, as part of a beautification plan. However, the project failed and citizens complained of rising dust pollution.

In January's first week, MPCB Chairman Siddhesh Kadam too visited the ground and gave an ultimatum of 15 days to the civic body to solve citizens’ complaints of deteriorating air quality in the area due to dust flying from Shivaji Park. The ground is 7.8 acres big, with 70 percent area as playground ground and 30 percent as green patches.

The IIT-B had a series of meetings with the BMC and MPCB on measures to be taken to control dust pollution at Shivaji Park. Some of the measures suggested by the experts include adding green patches, soil-binding techniques, use of rollers and water sprinklers/mist machines to settle the dust among others.