Mumbai Climate Week: Need a dedicated institutional custodian for air quality in Mumbai, say experts
Speaking a the session during Mumbai Climate Week, experts stressed the need for hyperlocal healthy air zones and a dedicated institutional custodian for urban air quality.
Session on “Healthy Air Zones for Local Communities in the Global South” at Mumbai Climate Week, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, on February 17, 2026. (Express Photo/Akash Patil)
As cities like Mumbai and Delhi continue to battle worsening air quality, environmental experts and policymakers on Monday said the core challenge in addressing air pollution is institutional, not technological.
Speaking at the session ‘Healthy Air Zones for Local Communities in the Global South’ during Mumbai Climate Week, experts stressed the need for hyperlocal healthy air zones and a dedicated institutional custodian for urban air quality.
Prasad Modak, senior environmentalist and CEO of the Environment Management Centre, said Mumbai lacks a single accountable body responsible for managing the city’s air quality in a holistic manner.
“For a city like Mumbai, there is no proper managerial institution that is holistically responsible for air quality, an institution with whom local communities can engage and co create solutions. The first step to counter pollution is to appoint a custodian for air quality,” Modak said.
He added that authorities must shift from a top down approach to a bottom up model that involves communities in identifying and resolving local pollution sources.
Dr Amita Athawale, Professor and Head of the Department of Chest Medicine and Environmental Pollution Research Centre at KEM Hospital, said air pollution cannot always be attributed solely to suspended particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10.
Citing a health survey in south Mumbai’s Bhuleshwar area, she said asthma prevalence there ranged between 20 and 30 per cent, nearly 10 to 15 times higher than Mumbai’s overall asthma rate of 2 to 3 per cent.
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“Initial checks showed PM2.5 and PM10 levels were within normal range. However, further inspection revealed jewellery factories using amalgamator acids. Components from these acids were mixing in the air and adversely affecting public health,” Athawale said.
Experts said such cases underline the need for hyperlocal monitoring and targeted interventions.
Amita Bhide, Professor at the Centre for Urban Policy and Governance at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences TISS, called for the identification of healthy air zones in Mumbai, designated urban pockets aimed at improving air quality by curbing man made contributors such as vehicular emissions and construction dust.
“Air does not have boundaries, so we must adopt airshed thinking. Creating multiple healthy air zones at the local level through a comprehensive approach can contribute to improving the city’s overall AQI,” Bhide said.
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Mumbai has been witnessing deteriorating air quality since the onset of winter in November. According to Central Pollution Control Board data, the city recorded a satisfactory Air Quality Index AQI on only one day this month, with most days falling in the moderate category, considered unhealthy for vulnerable groups such as senior citizens and children.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
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National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
