Context:

• This article is based on an Editorial “Mumbai second most polluted major global city as air quality worsens” which was published in the Business Standard. The air quality in Mumbai has been consistently declining in recent years. Air Quality Index Mumbai went beyond 300 in certain areas, indicating high levels of air pollution.
• The AQI is a color-coded air monitoring and classification tool launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for effective communication of air quality status.

What are the reasons behind Mumbai’s air pollution?

• Disruption of Wind Pattern: Current poor air quality in Mumbai is caused by frequent and extended disruptions in wind cycle, due to the prevailing La Nina conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
• Increase in the number of Sources of Pollutants: The Trans-Thane Creek, Taloja, Ambernath and Dombivali are the major industrial clusters due to the massive use of coal in them.
• Vehicular Pollution: As per the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research study, the share of vehicular emissions has increased considerably to over 30%.
• Increased dust pollution: It is driven by increased economic activity, more vehicles, extensive construction, and higher emissions, with no matched mitigation norms. 
  • Increase in construction activity has resulted in high PM2.5 levels, making it one of the most polluted months in the city’s recent history.
• Increasing deforestation: The metro project claimed over 2100 trees in Aarey forest and over 5000 trees across the city. Also, the Tungareshwar sanctuary in Vasai involves reclamation of 40,000 mangroves.

Also read: Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) Report

What are the greatest challenges with air pollution?

• Premature Deaths: As per the Lancet 2022 study, air pollution is estimated to have caused around 1.7 million premature deaths in India in 2019, accounting for nearly 17.8 percent of the total deaths recorded in the country that year, the highest in the world. 
• Loss of DALY: Nearly 40 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), comprising 11.5 percent of the total DALYs, are lost due to air pollution. 
• Decrease in Life Expectancy: As per a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), life expectancy in India has decreased by 2.6 years due to the diseases brought on by air pollution. 
• Increase in Non-Communicable Diseases: It has emerged as the most significant risk factor for lung cancer, respiratory obstructions, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, etc.
• Impact of Child Health: As per new epidemiological studies, it impacts child’s birth weight, development and cognition, insomnia, fertility, cerebral health. 
• Economic cost: Air pollution costs about $95 billion annually, i.e., almost 7 lakh crore, forming around 3.3 per cent of India’s total GDP. 
• Welfare cost: According to the report ‘Economic Policy Reforms 2023: Going for Growth’, the ambient particulate matter led to welfare cost of premature deaths at 8.4 per cent of India’s gross domestic product in 2019.

Way Forward

• Implementation of Pollution Mitigation Plans: The authorities just need to implement them with the following simple measures such as sprinkling of water and dust screens.
• Sectoral emission load Reduction Targets: A holistic, integrated, and comprehensive year-wide action plan to tackle air pollution must be formulated, as GRAP is being practiced in Delhi-NCR. 
• Monitoring System: Need to install a sensor-based monitoring system that can calculate air quality within a radius of three km around it and various air pollution monitoring mechanisms should be consolidated into one robust and standardized monitoring system. 
• Tackling Dust Pollution: By building better roads that do not require revamping. Need of mechanical dust-sweeping machines, chemical dust suppressants etc.
• Promotion of Electric Vehicles: It would bring a win-win situation by maintaining environmental sustainability and economic growth.
• Inculcating Environment-Positive Behaviors: Habits like car-pooling, public transport, cycling to work, and circular consumption patterns should be ingrained among the people.

Conclusion:

Addressing Mumbai’s air pollution crisis demands urgent and comprehensive measures, ranging from mitigating industrial emissions and vehicular pollution to promoting cleaner energy sources and fostering eco-conscious behaviors, to safeguard the city’s air quality and public health.