Aaditya Thackeray writes to Centre about rising air pollution in Mumbai

Yuva Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday wrote to the Centre raising the issue of air pollution in Mumbai citing widespread construction activities and lack of effective supervision to control themIn a letter to Bhupender Yadav Union minister for environment forest and climate change Thackeray also said Maharashtra does not have an independent environment minister to look into the issueIn the past 6 months the air quality in Mumbai has consistently been rated as Poor to Very Poor on the AQI air quality index Other cities in Maharashtra are also posting concerning air quality numbers he saidThe entire city is undergoing construction causing a large amount of dust and debris much of which is left unattended and unchecked Measures are needed to help the Urban Development Department and local bodies understand the consolidated impact construction has on the citys environment he saidConstruction activity in Mumbai is widespread and lacks effective supervision the former state environment minister saidAs per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research SAFAR Mumbais air quality index stood at a moderate 159 on Saturday Flagging rising air pollution in Mumbai the city civic body recently set up a panel to suggest dust control measuresThe city has refineries and fertiliser plants on its eastern coast and the roundtheclock industrial activity there is having a direct impact on the air quality in the city Thackeray saidAlso readMumbai Now BMC says air monitoring units to function post summerResidents in the vicinity of places like Mahul or Wadala are feeling the impact of the poor air quality and foul smell he addedThackeray said the Centre should evaluate and relocate these plants away from the cityIn 2022 Mumbai launched its Climate Action Plan which was heralded by the climate policy community and covered by acclaimed journals worldwideHe also asked to direct the relevant stakeholders in the citys civic administration to establish a climate cell as was suggested by the policy planWith G20 events being held in the city its global reputation is at stake he said Most importantly the health of the citizens should take precedence over political differences Thackeray saidHe said climate change has had a serious impact on the citys weather patterns changing the speed and direction of winds and causing polluted air to remain within the city instead of flowing towards the coastHe also asked that authorities be directed to install mobile sensors across the city saying the existing sensors do not cover its entire areaThis would provide more insights for addressing the air quality problem and help reconcile data authenticity of AQI currently measured he saidThackeray also raised the issue of Aarey Metro car shed a bone of contention between the then Uddhav Thackeray government and the current Eknath Shindeled governmentThe current administration in Maharashtra is focused on monetising the citys green spaces The healthy Aarey forest has been compromised against the citys will and with vengeance he allegedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever