Dust, air pollution at Shivaji Park: Among slew of steps, MPCB directs BMC to disallow digging, plant grass 

The MPCB has asked the BMC to plant grass seedlings of native origin on the ground by bifurcating the surface into patches. The state pollution board has given the civic authorities a deadline of three months and maintained that the plantation should be done before the arrival of monsoon in June.

The state pollution board also directed the civic body to take immediate measures to plant grass on the ground to check pollution. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Meanwhile, the MPCB also directed the BMC to appoint a contractor for carrying out maintenance of the ground throughout the year. “We have directed the BMC to disallow digging activities in the ground. If there’s any meeting, programme or gathering at the park then it should be done without digging the top layer of the soil,” Kadam said.

In the first week of January, the MPCB had given the civic authorities a 15-day deadline to come up with a possible solution to mitigate the issue of dust pollution at the ground. Following this, a panel of experts made a site visit and submitted a report to the pollution board as well as the civic authorities pointing out preventive measures.

Kadam also said that the state pollution board has also mooted a proposal for the BMC to set up a mini Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at the ground that would provide non-potable water that could be used for the ground maintenance works. “There are several borewells in the ground whose water is used for sprinkling. However, now this water has started to become saline with seawater entering. Therefore, we have mooted the proposal of setting up a mini STP that can draw water from any nearby sewage line and use it for maintenance,” Kadam added.

In the first week of January, the MPCB had given the civic authorities a 15-day deadline to come up with a possible solution to mitigate the issue of dust pollution at the ground. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Meanwhile, when contacted a civic official acknowledged that they have received the guidelines. “The guidelines have been assessed and a tender will be floated. Initially the work for planting of seedlings will be awarded and we will also issue a notice disallowing digging in the park. The work of setting up an STP could be taken up in a later phase,” the official added.

Located in Dadar at Central Mumbai, Shivaji Park is a 28-acre open ground that is thronged by sports enthusiasts, evening and morning walkers, and tourists regularly. The park is also a preferred location for many politicians for holding their political rallies for its location being in the heart of the city.

However, the topography of this ground is in a barren condition and the grass on the surface has withered away with time. As a result the top soil of this ground comprises loose red soil, which gets displaced easily leading to dust pollution at the locality. Over the past two years, the local residents have raised multiple complaints owing to this red dust issue to the civic authorities.