Mumbai Faces Rising Pollution: Residents Voice Concerns

On Monday morning, parts of Mumbai were shrouded in smog as the city’s air quality worsened. The Air Quality Index (AQI) at 8 a.m. was 131, categorized as ‘Moderate’ by the Central Pollution Control Board. A local resident expressed concern, stating, “The pollution in the city is getting worse. There are new cars and bikes every day which are worsening the situation further. We need to take action on time, so that we can help the future generations.”

Another resident, Sanjay Kathuria, noted the daily increase in pollution and emphasized the need for public measures to address the issue. “The situation of pollution is worsening every day. It’s not just in Mumbai but all over the country. It’s going to get worse after Diwali and even taking a morning walk is becoming difficult now. We citizens should take proper measure to prevent the situation,” he said.

On October 27, Mumbai recorded its worst air pollution level with an AQI of 202, classified as ‘poor.’ This level can cause breathing discomfort for most people with prolonged exposure. Several monitoring stations in the city reported ‘moderate’ AQI levels on Sunday, which can lead to breathing discomfort for individuals with lung, asthma, or heart conditions.

A visitor to Marine Drive highlighted the impact of ongoing construction work on pollution levels, saying, “This pollution is due to ongoing construction work here; it wasn’t like this before. It’s causing health issues. I come here daily because it feels refreshing, but now the dust and pollution have increased.”

In areas such as Byculla, Chembur, Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl. Airport, Deonar, Ghatkopar, and Kandivali West, AQI was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category. Meanwhile, observatories in Colaba, Kandivali East, Mulund West, and Powai reported AQI levels in the ‘satisfactory’ category, which poses only minor breathing discomfort to sensitive individuals.