A thick layer of smog covered Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in Bandra (East) on Thursday, prompting several office-goers to wear face masks while walking along footpaths in the busy commercial district. The haze continued to impact parts of Mumbai through the morning, with reduced visibility reported in the area. While hazy conditions are expected to persist during the day, visibility is likely to gradually improve as the hours progress.
Mumbai has now recorded poorer air quality levels for three consecutive days, with readings surpassing those typically seen in December and January. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 141 on Monday, 140 on Tuesday and 134 on Wednesday. All three readings fall within the ‘moderate’ (yellow) category.
Among pollutants, PM10 — largely generated by construction dust and vehicular emissions — has emerged as the primary contributor to the deteriorating air quality. Civic officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) attributed the spike in AQI partly to low wind speeds, which ranged between 10 kmph and 13 kmph during the affected period. Reduced wind movement can limit the dispersion of airborne pollutants, causing them to linger closer to the ground.
In response, the civic body has extended dust-control measures to contractors executing BMC road works. These include mandatory misting, wheel-washing facilities and covering of vehicles transporting construction materials, guidelines that were previously applicable to private construction sites.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court had voiced dissatisfaction over Mumbai’s AQI remaining at a “moderate” level, underscoring ongoing concerns about the city’s air pollution levels and public health impact.
Source: Mid-day
