BMC to attempt cloud seeding to curb pollution through rain; invites bids

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Friday invited Global Expression of Interest GEOI for initiating a cloud seeding program for artificial rain to combat air pollution in Mumbai reported news agency PTIThe deputy chief engineer civil of the BMCs environment department invited GEOI for running a cloud seeding program reported PTIReputed firms which have experience of undertaking cloud seeding in the last three years can submit their bids before December 14 the BMC said in a newspaper advertisement reported PTICloud seeding is a technique aimed at enhancing the probability of rain reported PTIA civic official told PTI that the selected firm will be appointed for three years It will undertake cloud seeding whenever air pollution spikes in the city and the situation is favourable for such an attempt reported PTIAfter receiving expressions of interest the BMC will call for financial offers from the interested firms reported PTIMaharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had recently directed the civic body to give the artificial rain technique a shot as a way of mitigating air pollution in the countrys financial capital The air quality in the city deteriorated sharply in the last two months reported PTIShinde had then said that the civic body had already approached a Dubaibased company reported PTIMeanwhile a thick blanket of haze hovered over Mumbai on Friday affecting the visibility while the air quality dipped to moderate again after a minor relief The citys Air Quality Index AQI on Friday morning was at 112 around 9 am according to the data collated SAMEER AppSeveral areas across the city too reported moderate air quality with a handful of exceptions that still reported satisfactory air quality According to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB Powai Vile Parle Borivali Worli Colaba Chakala Bhandup Mulund Bandra Kurla Complex Kherwadi and Byculla reported satisfactory air qualityBoth Mulund and BKC recorded an AQI of 96 while Kherwadi was at 95 Bhandup and Powais AQI stood at 90 Vile Parle recorded an AQI of 93 and Chakalas AQI stood at 91The air quality in Thane also dipped on Friday The city recorded an AQI of 148 putting its air quality in moderate category Meanwhile Navi Mumbai recorded an AQI of 160 While Nerul nodes air quality was satisfactory Taloja Mahape and Vashi recorded moderate air quality However Kalamboli recorded poor air quality with an AQI of 215An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good 51 and 100 satisfactory 101 and 200 moderate 201 and 300 poor 301 and 400 very poor 401 and 450 severe and above 450 severeplusMeanwhile the state government is still mulling over lasting solutions to the persistent air pollution issue after this years postmonsoon spikeWith inputs from PTI