Mumbai, the city of dreams, seems to be experiencing a twist in its weather tale as the monsoon recedes. The past few days have been cloudy, with the air quality index (AQI) improving from the hazardous category to a moderate one. However, the relief seems to be short-lived, as experts predict a rise in pollution levels and an increase in the temperatures in the coming days. The weather in Mumbai has always been unpredictable, and the residents of the city can only hope for some respite from the heat and pollution in the days ahead.
Mumbai’s Air Quality Improves to ‘Moderate’ due to Unseasonal Rain, but Experts Warn of Short-lived Relief
The air quality in Mumbai, India, experienced a temporary improvement from ‘poor’ to ‘moderate’ following recent unseasonal rains that helped settle down pollutants. However, experts have warned that this improvement is short-lived as the contaminants will spring back once the skies clear up. Construction work and vehicular pollution are considered the main reasons for the city’s deteriorating air quality.
On Sunday, Mumbai recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 166 (moderate), which was lower than most days in the past four months. The recent rainfall activity helped clear the air by washing away most of the common air pollutants through wet deposition.
However, Mumbai’s air quality has been recording ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ with some days even worse than Delhi and other major cities. Experts attribute vehicular pollution and construction work as the main sources of the deteriorated air quality. Climate change has also had a serious impact on the city’s weather patterns, changing the speed and direction of winds and causing polluted air to remain within the city instead of flowing towards the coast.
Mumbai’s air quality is worse than Delhi’s, which is considered the worst in the country. Recently, the city has recorded several worst air days since December. The absence of a full-time environment minister and lack of sensitivity towards public issues in the state’s illegal government have worsened this crisis, as there is no action on the ground, according to Shiv Sena leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray.
In relation to this issue, Aaditya Thackeray wrote a letter to Union Minister Bhupinder Yadav, expressing his concerns over the increasing air pollution across Maharashtra and poor quality of air in Mumbai. He requested the relevant authorities to install mobile sensors across the city, as the existing sensors do not cover the entire city, adding that this would provide more insights for addressing the air quality problem and help reconcile data authenticity of AQI currently measured.
According to AQI standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good,” 51 to 100 is “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 is “moderate,” 201 to 300 “poor,” 301 to 400 “very poor,” and 401 to 500 “severe”. In Mumbai, Colaba recorded 211 AQI (poor) while Mazgaon recorded 186 AQI (moderate). Worli recorded 121 AQI (moderate), Sion 119 AQI (moderate), Malad 169 AQI (moderate), Mulund 200 AQI (moderate), and Navi Mumbai 218 AQI (poor).
In conclusion, Mumbai’s air quality has experienced a temporary improvement, but experts warn that this relief is short-lived, and construction work and vehicular pollution are the main sources of its deterioration. Effective and sustainable measures are needed to address the air quality crisis in Mumbai and other urban areas in India, including reducing emissions from vehicles and construction sites and increasing awareness of the impacts of air pollution on public health and the environment.
