Colaba, Worli, and Sewri citizens’ groups have united under the newly established South Mumbai citizens Association (SMRA), which met for the first time on Saturday at Priyadarshini Park. Under the direction of Shiv Sena leaders Susieben Shah and Milind Deora, the group seeks to address urgent urban problems; pollution being the topic of its first debate. The discussion was held in response to a recent letter from Minister Nitesh Rane outlining possible business uses for the open spaces along the Coastal Road.
Shah, who also serves as General Secretary of the Malabar Hill Citizens Forum, highlighted the need for collective action. “SoBo residents must unite to resolve the challenges we face, working alongside policymakers and elected representatives,” she stated.
Deora underscored the urgency of air pollution, remarking, “It is not just causing respiratory problems but is also shortening our lifespans. Mumbai’s rising AQI levels are among the most pressing concerns we must address. This association will facilitate regular stakeholder consultations to find solutions for South Mumbai’s residents.”
Given the focus on pollution, Siddesh Kadam, Chairman of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), was invited to the discussion. “Growing up in Bombay, I have witnessed its development, and with that has come pollution. The challenge is to find a balance. The Coastal Road has significantly reduced travel time, but at what environmental cost?” he questioned, acknowledging gaps in policy implementation.
With the floor open for discussion, residents voiced a range of grievances. Vijay Datwani from the High-Rise Societies Federation of Parel-Sewri-Lalbaug pointed to unchecked construction as a major contributor to air pollution. “Construction sites and transport trucks are rarely covered, releasing dust and cement into the air. Mitigation rules exist but are not enforced,” he argued.
Sudhir Behl, a resident of Altamount Road, attributed excessive redevelopment to unchecked greed. “Many well-maintained buildings are being demolished simply because residents want bigger homes,” he said passionately. In response, Kadam revealed that a policy to regulate and limit redevelopment projects was being drafted.
Aditi Jain from the Colaba-Cuffe Parade Residents Association raised concerns about vehicular pollution. “With so many commercial spaces in our area, we see a continuous influx of vehicles. The lack of parking leads to endless traffic circulation, worsening both air and noise pollution.”
Nandini Chhabria from the Breach Candy Residents Forum proposed a solution: “The sea has been taken away from us, and in return, we’ve been given pollution and respiratory issues. We should transform the Coastal Road’s open spaces into a forest park to mitigate pollution and heat.”
However, architect Rahul Kadri of the Nepean Sea Road Citizens Forum expressed doubts. “Initially, the BMC involved us in planning these open spaces, but now their development has been privatised. We have no clarity on what will actually be built there.” While Deora and Kadam assured that these areas would remain open spaces, uncertainty remained.
The discussion also highlighted concerns over late-night construction noise, loud religious celebrations, and the slow progress in building the city’s sewage treatment plants, which continue to pollute Mumbai’s water bodies.
With its first meeting setting the stage for future discussions, the South Mumbai Residents Association aims to become a powerful platform for tackling civic and environmental challenges in the city’s southern precincts.
Source: The Hindustan Times
