On November 6 at 9 am, a few areas of Mumbai crossed the AQI of 270, which has become a cause of concern not only for the authorities, but also citizens.
According to the data, areas such as BKC, Malad, Sion, Powai, Chembur, Mulund, Colaba, and Deonar, which fall under the BMC jurisdiction, have recorded ‘poor’ AQI.
Therefore, a group of representatives from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MOEFC) will soon be in Mumbai as they take serious notice of the state of the city's air quality. The team will assess the current state of affairs and verify the steps taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to address the problem.
A week after voicing their concerns about air pollution in a letter to the state government's environment department, the Union ministry decided to take action.
A MOEFCC team will be visiting the financial capital for the first time to assess the steps made to monitor the declining AQI.
As per the civic officials, this visit of the team involves a comprehensive review of the compliance report. The report is being prepared by BMC and will be submitted to the Centre. The Centre is asking for details from BMC about the utilisation of the National Clean Air Programme Funds.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court (HC) observed that the lives of Mumbaikars are important and hence it has ordered a ban on the transportation of debris from construction sites for the next four days. This step was taken by the court to reduce air pollution in Mumbai.
The HC further warned that in case, in the next four days, the air quality does not improve, then it will impose a total ban on the plying of all vehicles carrying construction Debris during Diwali.
"No building debris is to be carried or transported to or out of the construction site. It will be made sure that all building supplies are delivered to the job site in mixing plants or fully covered truck," the HC added.
The HC had noticed the city's declining air quality index (AQI) and increasing air pollution suo motu (on its own).
Initially, the court had suggested that all vehicles transporting construction debris be prohibited from operating during Diwali.
Advocate general Birendra Saraf along with BMC counsels Joel Carlos and Milind Sathe, however, pleaded with the court to refrain from imposing a comprehensive ban because doing so would result in the entire cessation of all construction in the city, including infrastructure projects.
Heavens are not going to fall if the coastal road work is stopped for a week. Mumbaikars' lives are more significant. This is the main culprit (construction dust). As far as the air's mixing of dust is concerned, the Chief Justice asserted. He further directed to keep an eye on AQI.
According to Saraf and Sathe, the court can order that it be driven in a covered vehicle.
"Is there anything more cyclical than public health? (It is) Only till Friday, October 10," CJ said.
The CJ remarked that humans don't have control over wind, in response to Sathe's suggestion that the pollution was widespread and that a contributing factor was the decrease in wind speed. Humans are occupants of this planet. This is the result of our actions. Relying on nature isn't appropriate, the court observed.
Read More: Bombay High Court's Temporary Measures To Combat Air Pollution Amid Festivity
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