Although the BMC is implementing its Dust Mitigation Plan (DMP) to arrest air pollution levels, its efforts have not borne fruit, as large swathes of Mumbai continue to be blanketed by smog that has severely reduced visibility and pushed air quality indices into unhealthy ranges. As the air quality continues to deteriorate, calls for timely health advisories and alerts have grown louder, with the state government and the civic body facing flak for failing to issue timely warnings to Mumbaikars.

A look at the data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has pointed out how the neighbourhoods such as Malad West, Borivli East, Kandivli West, Navy Nagar in Colaba, Mazagaon, and parts of Shivaji Nagar in Govandi have borne the brunt, with pollution levels remaining consistently poor. Some experts point to a confluence of weather patterns trapping pollutants near the ground while others blame localised pollution and the “urban canyon effect” where tall buildings impact air quality and the temperature of streets.