The pollution haze that has been prevailing in Mumbai for the last few days has not reduced even today, and according to the available information, the situation continues to be worrying. In this sequence, the municipal body has implemented Graded Response Action Plan-4 (GRAP-4) in those areas where the air quality was continuously deteriorating. Let us tell you that GRAP-4 is implemented only in those areas where the situation is becoming extremely bad and immediate strict measures are required.
On Monday, the overall AQI of the city was recorded at 103, which is in the ‘moderate’ category. But it is noteworthy that places like Mazgaon, Malad and Deonar have been facing ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ air quality throughout November. For this reason, BMC has decided to immediately stop construction activities that spread dust in these zones.
According to BMC officials, 95 flying squads have so far inspected more than 70 construction sites and have issued notices to stop work at 53 sites for non-compliance of rules. Violations of BMC’s 28-point construction guidelines have been the major reason for these inspections. Monitoring of flying squads will continue in future also.
Also, in areas where AQI remained consistently ‘poor’ such as Borivali East, Malad West, Chakla (Andheri East), Deonar, Mazgaon, Navy Nagar, Mulund West and Powai, road cleaning, water sprinkling and dust-control measures have been enhanced. Small-scale polluting industries have been warned that heavy fines will be imposed for violating the rules.
Let us tell you that bakery owners have been instructed to remove polluting chimneys, while marble cutting units of Chakla area of Andheri East have been asked to adopt clean technology. Apart from this, 450 junior supervisors of the Solid Waste Management Department of BMC have also been given the power to impose immediate fines, so that activities like burning of garbage, plastic and throwing debris on the road can be stopped.
Here, the Bombay High Court recently refused to accept the Maharashtra Government’s argument that pollution in Mumbai has increased due to the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia. The court said that “even before this, it was difficult to get visibility of more than 500 meters in the city,” so the responsibility lies with local factors. Later, the court also ordered to form a five-member independent committee to inspect the construction sites.
Amidst all this, strictness regarding pollution control has been increased in the city, and it is expected that these measures will gradually improve the air quality, although at present the situation remains serious. For now, monitoring and prompt action by the administration is considered the only way to relieve Mumbai from the pressure of pollution.