For the first time since October 2023, Mumbai recorded a daily Air Quality Index (AQI) of 66 on Thursday, which is regarded as satisfactory under the standards of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Also on Thursday, 19 out of the 22 Air Quality monitoring stations in Mumbai recorded air quality between good and satisfactory levels, while the remaining three stations showed moderate readings. According to CPCB’s dashboard, Vile Parle and Kandivali recorded the best AQI readings of 38, followed by 42 each in Malad and Byculla, 51 in Colaba, 54 in Sion. Meanwhile, Mazagaon recorded an AQI of 118, followed by 101 at Andheri (East), and 107 at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). According to CPCB, AQI readings between 0-50 is considered as good, 51-100 is regarded as satisfactory, 101-200 is regarded as moderate, 201-300 is regarded as poor, 301-400 is regarded as very poor and reading beyond 400 is regarded as severe. The CPCB’s dashboard also shows that this is the first time since October last year that most of the pockets in the city showed AQI readings below 100 units. Civic officials said that the overall AQI has improved owing to the rampant action taken against violators not adhering to dust mitigation norms. However, experts have said that the AQI has improved owing to change in weather patterns. “In North India there is a prediction of rains, owing to which winds having moisture presence are blowing at a fast speed which is leading to the suspended particulate matter of the air getting flushed away. Due to this particular weather phenomenon Mumbai’s AQI has shown an exponential improvement,” Dr. Gufran Beig, atmospheric scientist and chair-professor of National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) told Express on Thursday. Taking note of Mumbai’s deteriorating AQI, the Indian Express launched a series ‘Death by Breath’ on October 19 revealing how rising pollution levels in Mumbai over the years has exposed its people, particularly young children, to health hazards with adverse long-term consequences. Following this, the BMC on October 25 issued a slew of air pollution mitigation measures, and had also penalised contractors, infrastructure firms that were not adhering to dust mitigation norms. “There has been a change in weather pattern but also the BMC’s continuous efforts to ensure that so many construction sites are following the norms now is also a contributing factor behind the city’s improved AQI readings, with the summer season on cards we are expecting the overall AQI to improve further in the days next couple of months,” said a civic official.
