Pollution around Wankhede Stadium now under control: MPCB

Last week,new results released by the MPCB showed the ambient air and ground water quality has markedly improved since November,with the most polluting parameters like the RSPM,BOD and COD being brought under the prescribed limit.

“Only two parameters still remain nominally high; suspended particulate matter hovering at 565.81 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m 3) and pH level at 10.6 milligram/litre,” said B D Wadde,sub-regional officer of the board in-charge of South Mumbai.

He said the prescribed levels for pH was between 5-9 mg/l and for SPM was 200 µg/m 3in residential areas and 500 µg/m 3 in industrial areas. The Marine Lines region of Wankhede station,he stated,was a commercial area.

The November tests,according to Wadde,showed RSPM levels four times above permissible limits while nitrous oxides were high too. D T Deole,senior law officer,MPCB,said,“Now,with effective pollution control methods,stadium pollution seems to have reduced considerably. The SPM levels are high but the entire onus can’t be put on the construction. SPM levels rise due to vehicular traffic as well as train traffic here.”

MPCB officials said the Mumbai Cricket Association has,however,been advised to take further steps to reduce SPM by regulating the course of the trucks carrying construction material to the site. “As for the pH levels,we have asked them to further treat the water released as construction residue,” Deole said.

Confirming the report,MCA joint secretary Lalchand Rajput said,“We have informed our contractor Larsen and Toubro to take the required efforts. The contractors,along with BMC members and the architect,will work out a plan.”