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Mumbai's Air Crisis: Healthy Air Zones to the Rescue?
27 Feb
Summary
- Targeted pollution-control zones show global success in improving air quality.
- Mumbai needs hyperlocal solutions beyond broad monitoring for air quality.
- Healthy Air Zones can tackle multiple pollution sources in urban areas.
Globally, targeted pollution-control zones like Agra's Taj Mahal restrictions and Bogotá's clean air interventions are demonstrating success. Urban experts suggest Mumbai can adopt and enhance similar Healthy Air Zone (HAZ) models to combat its escalating air pollution. The city faces challenges from construction, traffic, and waste burning, making clean air a critical urban issue.
Current air quality governance in India relies heavily on monitoring stations that often don't reflect actual human exposure in dense residential or traffic areas. Experts argue for a shift from broad monitoring to targeted management, focusing on exposure reduction in specific zones.
HAZs are designated urban areas with actively controlled emissions, a concept expanded beyond vehicle-focused low emission zones. Mumbai could apply this to business districts, transit hubs, and markets, integrating solutions for construction dust, road dust resuspension, and industrial emissions. Transport reforms, including EV adoption and public transit improvements, would be key.
Infrastructure changes like paving and dedicated lanes can reduce road dust. Stricter controls on construction dust and cleaner fuel for small industries would also be implemented. Localized waste management plans and green initiatives can further mitigate pollution. HAZs promote collaborative, ward-level solutions, acting as testbeds for scalable strategies.
