Residents’ health problems are being made worse by the ongoing air pollution in Mumbai, but the BMC doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the growing crisis. Authorities have not addressed the growing threat in areas like Saki Naka’s Chandivali, Kherani Road (L Ward), which has become a notorious hub for illicit furnaces (bhattis).
The inhabitants reported that the region harbours around 70 to 80 illegal furnaces, largely located along Kherani Road. The surrounding community is experiencing an increase in respiratory illnesses as a result of the severe air pollution that these furnaces are substantially contributing to. “Former BMC commissioner Iqbal Chahal had promised to establish an anti-pollution flying squad in each ward, but it remains a mere promise on paper,” stated Mandeep Singh Makkar, head of the Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA).
He stated that although environment minister and chief minister Eknath Shinde is in charge of this portfolio, he is neglecting important matters. Residents of Yadav Nagar on Kherani Road, who live close to these bhattis, have complained of serious lung problems. Makkar stated that “people are afraid of being intimidated by goons or are worried about future repercussions, so they are reluctant to speak out against the polluters.”
Source: The Free Press Journal
