Mumbai: Fitting vehicle-mounted air filters on 350 BEST buses, setting up virtual chimneys at traffic congestion spots, placing special streetlights and installing air purification systems in select gardens are some of the technological measures being identified to control air pollution in Mumbai. Among other measures and actions, the city civic body has ordered 30 vehicles mounted with sprinklers, also called fog cannons, while notices have been served to readymix concrete units, and industries have been directed to increase the height of chimneys, said Mumbai district guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar.
He said there won’t be a ban on bursting crackers but citizens should use their discretion and burst fewer crackers. Mr Kesarkar said,
IIT (Bombay) has identified various companies and technology offered by them is used on a trial basis in Mumbai. The technology which proves effective in reducing pollution will be given priority. We have identified six technologies, including vehicles-mounted air filters.
He said the Maharashtra Environment Department is monitoring the use of technologies besides the Mumbai civic chief.
Mr Kesarkar said 350 buses of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) will be fitted with “vehicle mounted filters” in phases for the removal of impurities from dust and other particles. The minister said,
Initially, these detachable air filters will be fitted on 150 buses of BEST and later on 200 more buses.
He said he has also suggested bringing new electric buses of BEST fitted with vehicle-mounted filters so that the time required for the fitment of the air filtration devices can be avoided.
On measures undertaken in view of the worsening air quality of Mumbai, Mr Kesarkar said the Maharashtra government has already issued guidelines for air pollution mitigation whose implementation has been started by the city civic body.
Speaking about the six technological measures, he said virtual chimneys will be installed at 10 spots of high traffic congestion in Mumbai. He added,
These chimneys will do filtration in huge amounts.
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He said a streetlight named “Vayu” will be installed with the objective of air purification at 50 locations. He stated,
An air purification system will be installed on a trial basis in six gardens, including the diamond garden and one in Chembur, Shivaji Park, Rani Baug in Byculla, SK Patil garden in Marine Lines and Bhakti Park garden in Wadala.
Queried if the bursting of crackers will be restricted during the Diwali festival, Mr Kesarkar said the state government always appeals to people to use fewer crackers. He further added,
At places like Delhi, there is a 100 per cent ban on bursting of crackers. We should think that if fewer crackers are burst there will be more happiness and there won’t be a ban.
He said the civic body has given a 15-day deadline for taking prohibitory action for curbing pollution and a 30-day time frame for purchasing machinery. He mentioned,
The air quality will certainly improve in this period.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
