Civic body announces detailed emissions inventory of air pollution sources

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Tuesday presented the budget for the upcoming financial year 202526The Rs 74427 crore budget for the financial year was presented at the BMC headquarters and the Mumbai civic body announced a detailed emissions inventory of air pollution sources in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMRBMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani presented the BMC budget of Rs 74427 crore for the financial year 202526BMC Budget 2025 was presented by Gagrani the stateappointed administrator of the civic body was around 1419 per cent more than the budget estimate of Rs 6518079 crore for the year 202425The budget document released by the BMC on Tuesday stated that the Budget Estimates 202526 for Environment Department is Rs 11318 crore It also mentions a detained plan for clean air in the cityAir Pollution Mitigation MeasuresThe budget document states the followingEffective monitoring of 28 points guidelines at all construction sites Environment Management Plan EMP for BMC contractual worksBMC has formed 95 squads at ward level consisting of its Engineers Cleanup Marshals and Police to ensure that the 28 point guidelines are being implemented67 tankers with 5000 litres capacity and 39 tankers with 9000 litres capacity are being deployed in 24 wards daily for road washingMisting Machines in two shifts daily have been deployed at every ward to curb air pollutionMechanised Cleaning is carried out regularly at an average of about 250 km per day which further ensures that dust particulate matter is not dispersed in the environmentMumbai Climate Action PlanFocuses on coordination with various BMC departments to achieve the targets set under Mumbai Climate Action Plan across the following sectors viz Energy and Buildings Integrated Mobility Sustainable Waste Management Urban Greening and Biodiversity Air Quality Urban Flooding and Water Resources ManagementOnground actions will be implemented to meet the Citys environmental and climate goals with a focus on three core areas ie Environment Protection Knowledge and Information Environment and Climate ChangeStringent policies and increased monitoring underscore our commitment for fresh air and healthier MumbaiFor continuous monitoring of ambient air quality it is proposed to set up 5 new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations CAAQMS and procure 4 mobile vansTo suppress airborne dust particles from resuspension 100 numbers 4 machines per ward of BatteryOperated Suction Machines are proposed to be procuredBMC will carry out a detailed emissions inventory of air pollution sources for the Mumbai Metropolitan RegionBMC has also proposed to collaborate with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune to develop an advanced air quality forecast system This system will provide early warning with a lead time of 72 hours by quantifying contributions from local regional and distant emission sources to Particulate Matter PM pollution in Mumbai and offer potential emission reduction strategies so that BMC can take preventive and mitigation measures to reduce air pollution in MumbaildquoMumbai Airrdquo App has been developed by the BMC to enable citizens to lodge complaints related to air pollution in their vicinity which is in addition to the existing manner of lodging complaints with the Ward Office BMC website and phone numbersIIT Kanpur submitted the proposal ldquoMumbai Air Network for Advanced Science MANASrdquo which includes installation of lowcost sensor to monitor local sources of air pollution in the city This proposal is being scrutinised for its implementationBMC is strengthening its own Environment and Climate Change Department to enhance its capacity in managing the Mumbai Climate Action Plan and environmental related issuesAs per directions of MPCB Environment and Climate Change Department is coordinating for converting the woodfossil fuelbased bakeries to the clean fuel such as electricity and PNGPermissions like IODCC given by BMC are now incorporating the conditions requiring the project proponents to comply with the air pollution controlmitigation guidelines