Cong Flags Concern Over Air Pollution In Mumbai, Demands Implementation Of MVA ‘Action Plan’

New Delhi: Flagging concerns over Mumbai’s air quality, Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad said the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has breached the danger level in the last few days and urged the Maharashtra government to implement the climate action plan of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime, news agency PTI reported.

“A few years ago, Delhi had the worst air quality level, but Mumbai has overtaken Delhi too. The heat and humidity has also increased due to smog. This is affecting the health of Mumbaikars and there has been an increase in respiratory diseases,” PTI quoted Gaikwad as saying.

The Congress leader also sought an audit of expenses of all the projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

“The state government should at least take into account views of the opposition parties in matters of public interest,” Gaikwad said.

As per a research by NEERI and IITB, factors such as dust from roads or construction sites add to over 71 per cent of the city’s pollution. The other factors include emission from factories, power plants, airports and garbage dumps.

According to the MVA’s Mumbai Climate Action Plan, measures could be taken on planning of construction hours, implementation of air and noise pollution rules, setting eco-parks in various areas and scientific disposal of waste.

“The government should not endanger Mumbaikars’ health for petty politics and should seriously consider implementing the plan. Children and senior citizens are also suffering due to the existing situation. There is a dire need for the government and the corporation to take concrete measures,” PTI quoted Gaikwad as saying.

The Congress leader also demanded an audit of expenses of all the projects in the MMR and sought to know if their cost increase was deliberate.

“To solve the traffic congestion issue, MVA had emphasised on launching multiple projects including the Goregaon-Mulund link road, Dahisar-Bhayandar elevated corridor, Vikhroli railway flyover, and coastal road, besides concretisation of more roads. However, since the current government came to power, these projects have been stalled as they don’t seem to have time for important things. They are busy poaching and breaking other parties,” Gaikwad told PTI.