Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray has written to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, calling for an immediate week-long suspension of private construction activities as Mumbai grapples with persistent smog over the past three days.
In a two-page letter, Thackeray described the “obnoxious levels of pollution” as a serious inconvenience to citizens. “No city in the world can attract visitors, investment or even keep its own citizens healthy with such pollution. I urge you to halt all private construction activity for a week,” said Thackeray. He also proposed a ward-wise construction schedule to help the city meet clean air objectives.
Civic sources, however, attributed part of the pollution surge to the ongoing redevelopment and infrastructure push, noting that redevelopment received momentum during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by the then undivided Shiv Sena.
Air quality data from 25 to 30 monitoring stations placed the city’s AQI at 121 on Sunday, within the moderate category. The highest readings were recorded at Bandra Kurla Complex at 166 and Deonar at 157, nearing the “poor” range, while Borivali East and Mulund West reported comparatively lower levels.
Thackeray also raised concerns about the reported felling of 45,000 mangroves and criticised proposals for compensatory afforestation in Chandrapur. He opposed plans to alter public spaces, including the Back Garden in Colaba and the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Referring to the latter, he wrote, “We have seen the urban development minister (Eknath Shinde) proposal to convert the Mahalaxmi Racecourse into a car park with underground construction… This plan to let this land be usurped by contractors and builders will not be allowed by Mumbaikars,” Thackeray stated.
Source: Hindustan Times
