Mumbai to implement GRAP 4 in areas experiencing poor AQI

“GRAP-4 will be implemented in places like Mazgaon, which is witnessing poor AQI at a continuous stretch and this will remain in force till the situation improves,” said a senior civic official. Meanwhile, civic authorities said they have deployed 450 junior engineers to monitor polluting activities such as garbage burning and open dumping of construction debris, which contributes to worsening of AQI.

“The fourth stage of GRAP is the basic stage, and our job is to undertake positive interventions. We have identified bakeries that are contributing to air pollution, penalised people burning garbage in the open and continuously sprinkling water on roads. These activities will continue in the areas which are seeing bad AQI consistently,” said the official.

On Thursday, the BMC issued showcause notices to five construction sites in Mulund for flouting dust mitigation norms. Besides this, notices were issued to four other sites around Colaba, Nariman Point, Cuffe Parade and Navy Nagar, urging contractors to follow dust mitigation norms at the earliest. 

Since the withdrawal of monsoon last month, multiple pockets of Mumbai have been recording poor AQI readings consistently, even though the city’s overall AQI has been mostly in the moderate category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) dashboard, some of the areas that are witnessing bad AQI consistently are Mazgaon in south Mumbai, Deonar in the eastern suburbs and Malad in the western suburbs.

The CPCB’s dashboard shows that between November 1 and 27, Mazgaon recorded poor AQI on 12 days, very poor AQI on two days, while moderate and satisfactory AQI readings were recorded for six days each. Further, the dashboard also showed that starting from November 16, Mazgaon has been recording poor AQI readings consistently. On Thursday, Mazgaon’s AQI readings stood at 259.

Similarly, Mumbai’s Deonar has recorded poor AQI for 14 days in November so far, eight days of moderate AQI and two days of satisfactory AQI. The CPCB’s portal also shows that between November 13 and November 27, Deonar recorded poor AQI daily except for one day. On Thursday, Deonar’s overall AQI stood at 219.

Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Malad has also been consistently recording bad AQI this month. The CPCB’s portal shows that this place has recorded nine days of poor AQI and three days of very poor AQI this month, followed by nine days of moderate readings and five days of satisfactory readings. The CPCB’s portal also shows that between November 16 and 26, Malad recorded bad AQI consistently, with satisfactory air being recorded only once.

Civic officials said the reason these areas are witnessing poor air is mainly due to local factors. “In Mazgaon, there are bakeries that are contributing to air pollution. Similarly at Deonar, open burning of garbage is the main contributing factor. We have started implementing local-level interventions and have deployed our staffers to monitor the situation on ground,” said the official.

Expert take

Meanwhile, experts stated that pockets in Mumbai are seeing bad AQI because when the wind starts to cool down, it becomes heavy, and due to the combined effect of slow wind speed, the pollutants remain suspended in the lower atmosphere for a prolonged period of time, creating a smog and mist-like condition, which mainly comprises suspended particulate matter.

“The city’s air quality has started to dip after the monsoon withdrawal took place, mainly because when the rains are there, a natural cleansing of the atmosphere takes place, and the atmosphere stays free of pollution. That is why the AQI improved after the unseasonal rains came, and now that the rain is not there anymore, the overall AQI is plummeting,” said Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology), Skymet Weather.