SUMMER-LIKE CONDITIONS BUT AIR QUALITY REMAINS POOR

MUMBAI: Despite summer-like conditions setting in early this year and Mumbai experiencing its hottest February in at least two decades and above normal temperatures continuing into March, air quality in the city has remained higher than usual for this time of the year.

As winter recedes, warmer and faster air causes suspended particulate matter and other pollutants to rise higher in the atmosphere and are dispersed, but this was not the case on Friday, when Mumbai’s air quality index (AQI) value touched its highest since January 28. As per the Central Pollution Control Board’s daily bulletin, Mumbai’s AQI on Friday stood at 262 (poor), jumping sharply from 206 (also ‘poor’) the day prior due to a slowdown in wind speeds. As per the System of Air Quality Research and Forecasting (SAFAR), the city’s AQI stood at 319 (’very poor’), entering this category for the first time since January 28-29, when the AQI remained at 325 over 48 hours Delhi’s AQI value as per CPCB on Friday was 152 (’moderate’), while as per SAFAR, it stood at 128 (‘moderate’).

“Though this time of the year typically sees cleaner air, over the next two months, wind speeds will remain erratic due to withdrawal of La Nina conditions after three years. There will be fluctuations in the wind speed, and when there is a sudden slowdown as was the case on Friday, there will be abrupt spikes in pollution levels as well. This will continue till April-end,” said Gufran Beig, founder-director of SAFAR and a scientist with the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).

“This is worrying because there are indications now that the city’s baseline emissions load may behigher than Delhi’s. The buffer system of coastal winds, which used to clean up the air is breaking down due to an increase in polluting activities within the city.

MUMBAI: The second phase of constructing a 200-metre walkway along the periphery of Mahalaxmi Racecourse has begun. The walkway is a part of the 1.6-kilometre project in which the first phase was completed last year.

The path – constructed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) – starts from Jai Auto Garage at Mahalaxmi bridge (also known as Mahalaxmi Station Road Low Level), Dr E Moses Road and goes towards Keshavrao Khade

Marg which will end at the racecourse gate.

“We have started work on the second phase at the cost of ₹1 crore,” said a civic official from G southward.

In June 2022, the first phase of the project – a 500-metre walkway – was completed from Rakhangi junction to Mahalaxmi

HT The project is estimated to complete within six months.