Mumbaikars raise concern over city’s high AQI level

Image for representational purpose only. Photo courtesy: istock

Mumbai's air pollution has reduced as the AQI fell within 200 on Tuesday, as per SAFAR index. Although the air quality is now moderate, experts claim that it still poses a risk to the health of sensitive groups. According to meteorologists, the pollutants continue to loom in the air due to calmer winds. These pollutants include tropospheric ozone, a greenhouse gas that is also responsible for rising temperatures across the city.

Rishi Agarwal, Founder of Mumbai Sustainability Centre spoke to Midday about the worsening air quality. "We as a collective city are not serious about the issue. Dust management in public projects is a very simple litmus test for seriousness. It's a case of being comfortably numb. Whether BMC or MMRDA, look at any road or infrastructure project and the effort to manage dust. The answer is clear. No point in talking complex technical stuff around weather patterns and changing climate if we are not resolving the low-hanging fruit."

The lack of action from the state government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has invited strong flak from the citizens. Elenora Dsouza, a Malad-based resident, writes to Midday about the troubles faced by people at Mithchowky (Malad West) due to an ill-planned flyover construction.

She shares, "The flyover construction began two months ago due to which the authorities have removed the footpath, leaving no room for pedestrians. The main society gate is defunct; the roads are clogged due to ongoing work. Also, the bus stop is way too close to society's boundary wall leaving no space for people to board the bus."

Elenora is a member of the Girdhar Park Committee in Malad, which wrote several letters to BMC and the area corporator to solve the pedestrian issue. "After several complaints, a narrow path has been provided for pedestrians. The path is utterly useless as the area within the railing is overtaken by bikes that are walking all over humans. Further, the construction has led to air pollution causing severe health problems among the kids and the elderly. We are breathing toxic air day in and day out!" added Elenora who is fed up with the depleting road and air quality in her region.

Flyover construction at Mithchowky, Malad West has led to clogged roads leaving no room for pedestrians. Photo courtesy: Elenora Dsouza

There is no end to the perils faced by Elenora and her neighbours as the authorities have shared no deadline for the flyover construction.

People need to commute, roads need to be built. Where is the plan to ensure Mumbaikar's health and safety amidst the construction? The city was whitewashed to welcome the G20 delegates and so were the troubles of local residents. As the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) lingers between the ‘poor' and ‘'unhealthy' categories on SAFAR Index, it is safe to tag it as a ‘don't-breathe-too-hard' territory.

"For the fifth time, I had to explain to my colleagues that it's not fog. The city has turned into a mess", commented Akash Jain on a picture of Indiabulls Park Panvel englufed in smog. A city-based IT professional, Akash goes on to compare Mumbai's air to that of Delhi's. He adds, "Delhi might have terrible air pollution but at least people are aware and the government is taking steps to bring it under control. In Mumbai, the authorities have failed to issue proper guidelines and warnings to alert us. If there had been no sea around Mumbai, the situation would have been worse than in Delhi. It's just the breeze that is a mitigating factor saving Mumbai from turning into a gas chamber."

Experts note that the city's air is congested with dust and smog rising from traffic, metro, and flyover constructions.

Indiabulls Panvel captured by Akash Rana during high AQI levels last week.

Face masks are back and this time, not to tackle the coronavirus but filthy air. Suresh Kamath, a chemist based in Andheri, shares "The sale of masks increased since the start of December. I have never seen a spike in its sale due to pollution as Mumbai never faced such issues earlier. More people are taking precautions while commuting. Not only masks, but patients of asthma and bronchitis are also turning up to buy prescriptions."

Air pollution poses serious threat to people with lung ailments. Doctors are of the opinion that it can aggravate respiratory infections such as asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cough. In such hazy times, it is better to take precautions.

Doctor Rohan Aurangabadwalla, a head pulmonologist, at Medicover Hospitals, Navi Mumbai recommends, "The best way to prevent worsening of asthma or other respiratory conditions is to avoid exposure to pollution as far as possible. Avoid going for walks early in the morning or late evening. Wear a mask when stepping out. For patients with asthma, it is advisable to take your inhalers regularly and keep them handy while outdoors for SOS use in case of any worsening of symptoms."

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