Environment department fetches Rs 113 crore; focus on mitigating air pollution

While eyeing towards enforcing the ongoing mitigation measures, the BMC is aiming to boost its monitoring successful the metropolis by collaborating with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) to make an precocious aerial monitering forecast system. In a first, this machinery volition boost the civic body’s mitigation measures by providing an aboriginal informing of upto 72-hours by “quantifying contributions from local, determination and distant emanation sources of PM (particulate matters).”

In what volition further boost monitoring successful the city, BMC municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said the civic assemblage is besides scrutinising the IIT-Kanpur connection for “Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Science” that proposes to instal low-cost sensors to show section sources of pollution.

The situation section is besides acceptable to procure 100 battery-operated suction machines, which volition suppress the particulate particles that stay suspended successful the atmosphere. Officials said that 4 machines volition beryllium distributed successful each of the city’s 24 wards.

While biology scientists welcomed the move, experts similar Bhagwan Keshbat of Waatavaran Foundation said the BMC should besides absorption connected ensuring due implementation of its C&D (construction and demolition) particulate mitigation plans.

“While initiatives similar precocious aerial prime forecast systems, usage of low-cost sensor monitoring networks and the program of carrying retired elaborate emissions is surely a measurement successful the close direction,  walkability and procurement of electrical buses volition besides decidedly boost sustainable transport practices successful the city. Furthermore, operation sites should beryllium encouraged to signifier the fixed operation and demolition discarded guidelines to trim contamination from the operation manufacture and due disposal of debris volition destruct the contented of coagulated operation waste,” said Keshbat.

According to officials, the BMC has formed 95 squads astatine ward levels to guarantee strict implementation of its 28-point guidelines for operation sites.