#Bombayphile : Mumbai Has Become A Gas Chamber! Who Is City's Hitler?

 

Last week brought dreadful news for Mumbaikars. The pollution level of the city has surpassed Delhi. Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has reached alarming levels. The city has become a gas chamber with many Mumbaikars dying untimely deaths by breathing the poisonous air. So, who is the Hitler who transformed the city into a gas chamber? There are many Hilter in Mumbai, not one.

Every year, we see news on TV about how polluted the air of Delhi becomes in winter. The TV channels devote a good amount of airtime, showing the plight of Delhi citizens who suffer from breathing issues. The farmers of neighbouring Haryana are blamed for contributing to the pollution by burning parali. Several squads have been formed to check such activity. In the past, the courts have come down heavily upon the central and the state governments over their inefficiency in controlling the pollution. Some measures like even number-odd number plying of vehicles on alternate days was adopted. Mumbaikars felt blessed by seeing all this, and were happy that they were breathing relatively cleaner air.

Mumbai is witnessing a large scale construction activity these years. It seems that every new skyscraper is trying to dwarf the previous ones. As per a conservative estimate, there are around 600 under-construction buildings in Mumbai which emit dust that contributes to the polluted air. Apart from the private constructions, large-scale infrastructure projects undertaken by the governmental agencies are another source of pollutants. Presently, around six metro lines and a few flyovers are being built in and around Mumbai. Supporters of the infrastructure development contend that availability of public transport would reduce pollution in the long run. Several industries like Rashtriya Chemical Fertilizers (RCF) and petrochemical refineries in the north-eastern part of Mumbai have been perennial contributors to the city’s pollution. When these industrial units were set up several decades ago, they were away from the residential parts of Mumbai. With the rapid growth of the city, these units are now surrounded by residential buildings and their dwellers have no choice but to inhale the dark smoke 24/7.

On the one hand, Mumbai’s air is being polluted by multiple sources and on the other hand, the green cover of Mumbai is dwindling. There was a huge uproar over cutting of trees in the Aarey forest for a metro train depot, and destruction of mangroves for construction of the Navi Mumbai airport and the trans-harbour link. Three years back, I did an investigative story that revealed how slum mafia in the Aarey forest was clandestinely burning the green patches to raise huts there. Mumbai is blessed to be located on the coast of Arabian Sea. The breeze coming from the sea has helped in maintaining the city’s air breathable to a large extent, as it blows away the pollutants. However, due to the climate change, this advantage of Mumbai is deteriorating and the winds are getting weaker due to meteorological reasons. Environmentalists metaphorically point out that the lungs of Mumbai have become sick.  

As a knee-jerk reaction, the BMC has come up with certain guidelines to mitigate the pollution arising out of the construction activities and diesel vehicles. However, it is going to take much more than legislations and administrative efforts to contain pollution. Every Mumbaikar has to think of ways to reduce his carbon footprints and using public transport, avoiding usage of air-conditioners are a few examples. Diwali is around the corner and we can celebrate it by using crackers that emit less smoke and sound. If our lungs are healthy, we can celebrate many more Diwalis.

(Bombayphile is published every week where Jitendra Dixit writes about the past and present of Mumbai.)