There’s something in the Mumbai air
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· IT, AI, semiconductors & computing· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Bombay High Court took suo motu cognizance of Mumbai's air pollution caused by construction dust, highlighting inconsistent compliance with existing guidelines.
Background
A study by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) found that construction dust contributes to 30% of PM10 pollution in Mumbai. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently using mist spraying and stop-work notices as mitigation measures.
Facts for Prelims
- FactConstruction dust contributes to 30% of PM10 pollution in Mumbai according to MPCB.
- BodyMaharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is the state body monitoring air quality.
- FactPM10 is the specific particulate matter pollutant identified as being impacted by construction dust.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the challenges in monitoring urban air quality and suggest measures to regulate construction-led pollution in rapidly developing metropolitan cities like Mumbai.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Data deficit: Lack of granular data on road movement and construction activities hinders evidence-based policy enforcement.
- Regulatory gap: Inconsistent compliance with High Court guidelines despite the existence of stop-work notices and mist spraying.
- Mitigation limitations: Reliance on temporary measures like mist spraying rather than structural urban planning and dust-suppression technologies.
Keywords: suo motu cognizance · PM10 pollution · granular data · regulatory compliance · urban air quality
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.