Dust put to test

Having identified major sources of pollution, BMC suggests cleaner fuels and other preventive measures for different undertakings to enforce so as to reduce dust levels

As the first step of its pollution-control campaign in the city, the BMC has laid out the guidelines to be followed by various departments in order to free the city of excessive dust that has been threatening the health of citizens with its suffocating presence.



Civic officials conducted a meeting last Friday to decide upon the strategy. They identified different sources of the increasing amount of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) causing breathing problems for Mumbaikars.

With a view to get the levels down, the corporation has already begun delegating work to various departments - stakeholders like the MMRDA, MSRDC, MoEF and the NEERI - to achieve the target. In case of violations, the MPCB and BMC would issue notices to the concerned authorities.



A BMC official said, "It was already decided that the implementing authority of the campaign and guidelines would be the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). But the civic authority also has to do its bit to lower dust level. There are various other authorities which would help in this work."

What's to be done
The major sources of air pollution are: dust on the roads (30%), power plants (21%), construction and development activities (8.5%), open burning of waste (11%), and hotels, restaurants, bakeries and crematoriums (9%).

As per the new guidelines, power plants would have to opt for cleaner fuel, gas treatment, and modifications of exits for fumes. The dust on roads can be reduced by vehicles shifting to cleaner fuels like CNG and LPG and change in engine technology, which would be implemented by the RTO.

An environment management plan implementation would be chalked out for various project proponents like MSRDC and MMRDA.

It would be developed by the MoEF and implemented by the BMC's environment department. Another major factor would be cleaning and wet-sweeping major roads around sensitive areas like schools, colleges, hospitals, public places and densely populated regions.

This would be taken care of by the BMC's solid waste management department, and also by the use of better technology for reducing dust on new surface of roads as per STAC recommendations, which will be implemented by the BMC's road department.

With a number of development activities going on in the city, a lot of dust is generated through sand and ready-mix cement plants.

The builder would have to sprinkle water on sand, and other demolition waste, wash and dry tyres of vehicles loaded with construction material, and appoint an environmental and health safety officer to coordinate with the BMC's deputy chief engineer (civil) of environment.

The open burning of garbage at dump yards would have to be stopped for which the BMC has already begun the work of scientific closures of dumping grounds.

At hotels, restaurants, bakeries and crematoria, where fuels such as gas, kerosene, diesel and wood are burnt, a fuel and technology change would be implemented by ward officers and the health department.

Officialspeak
The dust-free campaign is the brainchild of the BMC's Standing Committee Chairperson and Sena Corporator Rahul Shewale.

"The corporation would follow the guidelines which have been set up and the other agencies would implement it in their way.

We would hold a workshop with MPCB and NEERI in the first week of July to discuss further plans. MPCB would be the implementing authority," Shewale said.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Jalota said, "We are planning to study and analyse the causes and preventive measures of air pollution with different agencies.

Although the RSPM levels have reduced, it is still a matter of concern and we are tackling the issue head on."