HPCL, Tata Power & Other Companies To Reduce Production By 50%

Amid the growing concerns about the rise in air pollution and poor air quality in the city, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) asked Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Tata Power, and a few other petroleum and power companies to reduce their production by 50%. MPCB made the appeal with an aim to reduce pollution in the city.

MPCB in its press note released on Wednesday, said it gave this instruction of reduction in production, in the notices issued on October 27, to the companies at Ambapada located in the Trombay area of Mumbai.

Strict guidelines were provided in a similar warning that was sent on Wednesday to a Chembur-based chemicals and fertilizers company. It further stated that the board has shut down two of the city's ready-mix concrete (RMC) facilities.

The action follows the issue of standard operating procedures to the companies sent ten days ago by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

According to the civic body's air pollution mitigation plan, the MPCB would monitor emissions every day for a month in adjacent MIDCs from businesses including Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), HPCL, RCF, Tata Power, and others, and would take punitive action against non-compliant parties.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in its mapping of the AQI data, showed that on November 2 out of the 23 stations in Mumbai, the AQI values for Chembur, Colaba, Kherwai, Mulund (West), and Sion areas were 'poor,' standing at 220, 223, 218, 234, and 219, respectively.

Mumbai's minimum temperature is probably going to be 23 degrees Celsius and the highest temperature will probably reach 34 degrees Celsius in November's first week.

Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) was in falling under the 'moderate' category at 167. Thane, too recorded an AQI of 142 indicating 'moderate' air quality. Furthermore, with an AQI of 210, Navi Mumbai recorded "poor" air quality.

Also, with an AQI of 75, Andheri's Chakala in Mumbai is the least polluted, according to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

The data also shows that PM 2.5 and PM 10 are the most common pollutants in Mumbai. However, PM10 is the most common pollutant in Thane as well. PM 2.5 and PM 10 are the most prevalent pollutants in Navi Mumbai. The AQI for Navi Mumbai is 'poor' overall, with the AQIs for the areas of Vashi, Kalamboli, and Sanpada reporting 'poor' air quality standing at 257, 271, and 207, respectively.

An AQI of 0–50 is regarded as "good," 51–100 as "satisfactory," 101–200 as "moderate," 201–300 as "poor," 301–400 as "very poor," and 401–500 as "severe."