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Mumbai Chokes: Smog Triggers Emergency Measures
25 Nov
Summary
- Mumbai's AQI surged into poor and severe categories, prompting emergency responses.
- Visibility was reduced, with residents reporting burning eyes and breathing discomfort.
- Authorities may invoke strictest GRAP-IV controls if air quality does not improve.
Mumbai is currently enveloped in a dense smog, with citywide air quality indexes fluctuating between unhealthy and severe levels. Reduced visibility has been observed across major roads and the waterfront, leading to widespread reports of burning eyes and breathing difficulties among residents. Several monitoring stations have registered readings well over 300, primarily due to elevated PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, with specific areas like Mazagaon being particularly affected.
In response to the escalating pollution, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has activated an emergency pollution plan. This includes redeploying enforcement teams and issuing warnings that the strictest GRAP-IV restrictions, such as halting construction activities, may be implemented if high readings persist. Officials are considering targeted construction bans and other controls in the most affected wards, aiming for positive interventions like misting and cleaning before resorting to broader shutdowns.
Environmentalists cite a combination of ongoing construction, road dust, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution as local contributors. Regional factors and meteorological conditions, such as cooler nights and light winds trapping pollutants, are also playing a significant role. Increased fossil-fuel power usage, linked to the high electricity demand from data centers, has also been highlighted as a contributing factor to Mumbai's worsening air quality.
