The Union ministry of finance has given its nod for releasing Rs 21 crore towards committed funding to improve the air quality of Mira-Bhayandar. The funding has been approved on the virtue of recommendations by the 15th Finance Commission. Based on the funding, the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has chalked out an elaborate roadmap to ensure ambient air quality standards.
In the first phase of the action plan, the civic body will install real-time air quality index boards at 10 strategic locations. Armed with built-in air monitoring units, the boards will display the level of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, dust, particulate matter and other types of pollutants.
Deputy municipal commissioner Sanjay Shinde said that besides monitoring and evaluating the quality of air, the MBMC is also planning to install solar panels in all municipal properties, procuring e-vehicles and setting up charging stations across the twin-city. Tree plantation drives are already undertaken at regular intervals to promote greenery and reduce air pollution, he said.
The MBMC is also geared up to commission a state-of-the-art air separation unit under aegis of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology and guidance from their Mumbai counterparts.
So far, the twin-city was devoid of an effective air monitoring mechanism as the civic administration had remained apathetic towards the problem. Air monitoring work, which was outsourced to private agencies, had been a cosmetic affair.
