Amid deteriorating Mumbai’s air quality in the past few weeks when the city is experiencing smogs of dust and pollution in the air, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader and former state Environment and Tourism Minister Mr Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday slammed the Shinde Fadnavis government for the terrible condition of Mumbai's pollution index. ‘’Maharashtra government is silent on Mumbai pollution. The source of pollution must be traced and proper steps need to be taken, but Shinde govt is least bothered,’’ claimed Mr Thackeray.
Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained 'poor' at 173, on Sunday at 10.30 am, according to SAFAR. The report also stated that PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations in Mumbai were at 85 and 208 respectively. The current PM2.5 concentration in Mumbai is 5.7 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24 hrs air quality guidelines value.
Mr Thackeray’s jibe at the Shinde Fadnavis government came days after the BrihanMumbai municipal Corporation administrator Mr Iqbal Singh Chahal said that his office has raised the issue with the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas so that smoke emitted from the refineries can be checked. He had said that there are a few refineries in and around Mumbai, like Bharat Petroleum, Rashtriya Chemicals and due to day-to-day activities there is the emission of smoke from the refineries.
Earlier, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had alerted the BMC about rise in air pollution levels while some experts have raised an alert and called for implementing action plans. Further, MPCB had suggested putting restrictions on burning of biomass and installation of processing plants for construction, and demolition debris.
AQI of different areas in Mumbai
Navy Nagar-Colaba, Mumbai: AQI 193 Poor
Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai: AQI 182 Poor
Vile Parle West, Mumbai: AQI 132 Poor
Sion, Mumbai: AQI 169 Poor
Thane, Pimpleshwar Mandir: AQI 143 Moderate
Nerul, Navi Mumbai: AQI 289 Very Poor
