The City that Chokes: How Mumbai is handling air pollution, which has more than doubled over 5 years

Like Delhi, Mumbai too is choking.

Rapid construction, burning trash, and congestion have taken a serious toll on Mumbai’s air quality, with smog and haze hovering over the city skies.

The city authorities have announced measures to curb air pollution, which has already triggered several health issues like persistent dry cough, throat infection, and breathing difficulties.

Let’s take a look.

Worsening air pollution in Mumbai

According to Mid-Day, the air quality index (AQI) of the financial capital was reported to be in the “moderate” category.

The report says the AQI data analysed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed that out of the total 23 stations in Mumbai, Chembur, Colaba, Kherwai, Mulund (West) and Sion recorded  “poor” air quality today with AQI at 220, 223, 218, 234, and 219 respectively.

Yesterday, the city’s AQI stood at 152 in the “moderate” category.

A study has indicated that over the past five years, the city’s air quality in October has likewise steadily declined.

In Mumbai, the amount of pollutants has doubled between 2019 and 2023. The city is seeing an increase in the highly harmful particulate matter (PM) 2.5, according to a report from the climate-tech start-up Respirer Living Sciences.

PM2.5 increased by 54.2 per cent between 2019 and 2020. It then somewhat decreased by three per cent in 2021 and 0.9 per cent in 2022, before rising by 42.1 percent in 2023.

Technological steps to curb air pollution

The city authorities have drawn up a detailed plan to combat pollution.

According to PTI, 350 buses of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will be fitted with “vehicle mounted filters” in phases for the removal of impurities from dust and other particles.

“Initially, these detachable air filters will be fitted on 150 buses of BEST and later on 200 more buses,” Mumbai district guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar said.

The city’s public transport system has also made substantial progress towards cleaner fuel options. Notably, the BEST plans to achieve 100 per cent clean fuel usage by the next year. Currently, 68 per cent of the buses are CNG-powered, 14 per cent are electric, and only 18 per cent run on diesel.

Virtual chimneys will be installed at 10 spots of high traffic congestion in Mumbai. “These chimneys will do filtration in huge amounts,

A streetlight named “Vayu” will be installed with the objective of air purification at 50 locations.

“An air purification system will be installed on a trial basis in six gardens, including the diamond garden and one in Chembur, Shivaji Park, Rani Baug in Byculla, SK Patil garden in Marine Lines and Bhakti Park garden in Wadala,” the minister said.

“IIT (Bombay) has identified various companies and technology offered by them is used on a trial basis in Mumbai. The technology which proves effective in reducing pollution will be given priority. We have identified six technologies, including vehicles-mounted air filters,” he told reporters.

He added that the Maharashtra Environment Department is monitoring the use of technologies besides the Mumbai civic chief.

Other measures taken

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered 30 vehicles mounted with sprinklers, also called fog cannons.

Notices have been served to readymix concrete units, reported PTI.

Industries have been directed to increase the height of chimneys, said Mumbai district guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar.

On 25 October, the city’s civic body issued several measures, including to ensure that at least 35 feet high tin or metal sheets are erected around the periphery of construction projects having a height of more than 70 metres.

Around 6,000 sites in Mumbai are witnessing construction currently, as per PTI. “At all these places (where construction is going on) dust- and pollution-control measures should be implemented. Else, construction will be stopped, be it private or government work,” the BMC had said in a release several days ago.

Kesarkar said the civic body has given a 15-day deadline for taking prohibitory action for curbing pollution and a 30-day time frame for purchasing machinery.

“The air quality will certainly improve in this period,” he added.

No ban on firecrackers

Kesarkar said there won’t be a ban on bursting crackers but citizens should use their discretion and burst fewer crackers.

“At places like Delhi, there is a 100 per cent ban on bursting of crackers. We should think that if fewer crackers are burst there will be more happiness and there won’t be a ban,” he said.

Moreover, the BCCI has restricted the use of fireworks during cricket World Cup matches in Mumbai and Delhi due to the deteriorating air quality.

Mumbai is scheduled to host two more league games, today and on 7 November, and the semifinal on 15 November.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah in a statement on Wednesday said, “BCCI is sensitive to environmental concers. I took up the matter formally with the ICC and there won’t be any fireworks display in Mumbai, which can add to the pollution level.”

Bombay HC takes suo motu action

On Tuesday, the Bombay High Court took suo motu (on its own) cognizance of the matter and voiced worry over the “deteriorating” AQI in Mumbai and the surrounding areas.

“What is crucial is that no steps have been taken to create/issue necessary health advisories as also to raise awareness amongst citizens so as to best safeguard themselves from deleterious levels of AQI presently prevailing in Mumbai,” TOI quoted it as saying while expressing disapproval at the lack of initiatives to increase public awareness.

“This factor needs immediate attention,” said a bench, which consisted of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor.

Three residents, Amar Tike, Anand Jha, and Sanjay Surve, brought the issue of air pollution to the attention of the HC in a PIL, asking for instructions to be sent to the BMC and the state to take prompt action to reduce it in Mumbai.

The HC will hear the PIL on 6 November.

Situation in other cities no better

PM2.5 levels in Delhi increased by 32 per cent between 2019 and 2020, dropped by 43.7 per cent in 2021, and then steadily increased in 2022 and 2023. However, the peak pollution season, which is usually associated with Diwali, is still far off, according to the report by Respirer Living Sciences.

A few more days of “very poor” air quality are predicted for several areas of the city, where the air quality has deteriorated to the “severe” level.

In Hyderabad, PM2.5 rose by 59 per cent between 2019 and 2020, decreased by 2.9 per cent in 2021, and then soared by 29.1 per cent in 2022. It increased by 18.6 per cent this year.

Kolkata, however, defied the general trend in a little way, with PM2.5 levels rising by 51.7 per cent in 2021 after falling by 26.7 per cent in 2019 and 2020. It decreased by 33.1 per cent in 2022 but increased by 40.2 per cent this year.

Unexpectedly, the PM2.5 levels in four state capitals — Lucknow, Patna, Bengaluru, and Chennai — dropped this year compared to previous.

Chennai experienced the largest decline, at 23.7 per cent, followed by Bengaluru (11.6 per cent), Patna (11.1 per cent), and Lucknow (0.9 per cent).

With inputs from agencies