Navi Mumbai: Rise in air pollution sparks concerns among citizens

Data from air quality monitoring stations across Navi Mumbai confirms the gravity of the situation. During the first 25 days of December, a majority of the city recorded air quality indices (AQI) in the ‘Moderate’ to ‘Poor’ categories, far from the safe limits. In key locations such as Kopri-Vashi, Airoli, and Sanpada, AQI levels consistently exceeded normal limits, with Taloja and Mahape recording the worst air quality.

The AQI in Navi Mumbai in December stayed above 120 which indicates that “the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups.” In some areas, locals also complain that visibility has been reduced to less than 10 feet due to dust suspended in the air, especially at night.
Drawing attention to these trends, Ronak Sutaria, Founder and CEO of Respirer Living Sciences said, “Kalamboli and Tondare stations recorded ‘good’ air quality days, though none of the monitoring stations maintained consistent ‘good’ air quality and the majority of days fell into the ‘moderately polluted’ and ‘poor’ categories. For instance, Mahape and Nerul experienced only one ‘satisfactory’ day each, with the remaining days either moderately or poorly polluted.”

Unregulated construction & industrial pollution

Environmentalists attribute the decline in air quality to unregulated construction, industrial emissions, and vehicular pollution. “Unplanned and haphazard development is wreaking havoc in Navi Mumbai,” said B N Kumar, director of the NatConnect Foundation. He highlighted the failure of contractors to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) recently led by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).

An official from NMMC highlighted that recently they have inspected all construction sites across the city and have fined 87 sites which were non-compliant of the SOPs drafted in August.

Reportedly, basic practices like cleaning dumper truck tires at construction sites are frequently overlooked, causing dirt to spread onto roads where it dries and turns into dust. Large-scale construction projects like the Navi Mumbai International Airport, MIDC and highway expansions have exacerbated the issue.

Navi Mumbai’s ‘industrial pollution’ remains another pressing concern. Taloja’s industrial hub is a major contributor to harmful emissions. Meanwhile, the city’s APMC market in Vashi, which houses Asia’s largest wholesale market complex, sees unchecked operations of trucks with faulty pollution controls. “Authorities remain unconcerned, and complaints often lead to no action,” Kumar said.

“We are in continuous action to mitigate the rising air pollution in Navi Mumbai. All the industry operations are watched closely and strict actions are taken against defaulters, permissions are denied to industries operating without the SOPs. The current issue is mainly due to the resuspension of dust in the air, which is difficult to eliminate,” said Amar Durgule, Sub-regional Officer, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

Need for Hyperlocal Monitoring

Sutaria called for hyperlocal monitoring to tackle the increasing air pollution effectively. “Localised interventions and emission reduction strategies are vital to mitigate long-term exposure risks,” he said. Key areas like Kopri-Vashi and Kalamboli reflect the growing air pollution challenge in the region, compounded by urban activities, vehicular emissions, and localised industrial operations. “The data highlights the need for urgent, region-specific intervention, focusing on emission reduction and public health advisories to mitigate long-term exposure risks,” Sutaria added.
Speaking on hyperlocal monitoring, Durgule said, “Other than the monitoring stations in Navi Mumbai city at five places, there are monitoring vans across the city to deal with the air quality out of the reach of the station.” The MPCB has mandated industries emitting sulfur-based harmful gases to switch to compressed and pressurized natural gas, ensuring safer and more environmentally friendly operations.