As winter sets in, the air quality in South Mumbai deteriorates several times, prompting citizens to compare it to Delhi’s AQI. Data from SAFAR (an air quality and weather forecasting and research system developed by the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology) showed that the AQI of several areas, including Mazgaon, Colaba and Ill in Mumbai, was worse than that in the nation’s capital on Wednesday morning.

This is not the first case that the air quality in areas of southern Mumbai has fallen to very poor quality and recorded a worse AQI than Delhi that day. However, experts called it “incidental” and “coincidental”.

In the list of the 30 most polluted cities in the ranking, 22 are in India, according to the list of “the most polluted cities in the world” published by IQ Air, a Swiss organization.

Delhi ranks as the most polluted capital in the world in this survey. Although Mumbai was not listed in the IQAir survey this year, the AQI registered by several agencies, including SAFAR, showed cases where South Mumbai registered AQI levels in the very category. weak.

While the city’s overall AQI improved slightly on Wednesday evening, Colaba continued to have an AQI in the very poor category.

SAFAR rates AQI levels for PM2.5 in the range 0-50 as good; 51-100 as satisfactory; 101-200 as moderate; 201-300 as poor; 301 to 400 as very bad and above 400 as severe.

Air quality in Colaba, Mazgaon, Malad “very bad” Wednesday morning:

As of Wednesday morning, the AQI recorded by the SAFAR air quality monitoring system in Delhi was 235, while Colaba recorded an AQI of 327, Mazgaon 309 and Malad 305.

In the evening, Colaba recorded an AQI of 306. Wednesday evening

The AQI at Mazgaon (300) also remained in the “very poor” category and was closer to Delhi’s level of 208 in the evening.

The AQI of 301 to 400 is rated “very low,” which means it can cause respiratory illness with prolonged exposure.

What the experts say:

Low wind speed, low temperatures and high humidity as well as vehicle pollution proved a “deadly combination” for Colaba on Wednesday, according to air pollution experts.

Vehicle smoke, garbage burning, industries and construction dust are also factors in the deterioration of air quality.

“The east coast to Mazgaon is crossed by freighters and cruise ships, boats and trawlers. Dr Gufran Beig, founder and project director of SAFAR, said that natural factors such as low temperatures, low wind speed and high humidity combined to keep more airborne particles in the air at the above Colaba, causing their concentration to higher levels. “This is happening exactly at Colaba and it is a feature observed here thanks to our monitor during the winter,” he said.

“It is worth watching if a large amount of garbage is burned openly or if huge bonfires are lit too frequently, allowing particles to mix in the air and remain stagnant, resulting in deterioration of the environment. air quality because the wind speed is low in winter and even near the coast. Usually, the strong wind blowing from the sea on the Mumbai peninsula saves it from the severe effects of air pollution, ”he added.

On the idea of ​​comparing the AQI of the financial capital of Mumbai to that of Delhi, Beig said that it was fortuitous that the AQI of Mumbai or rather South Mumbai was worse than that of Delhi.

Explaining his logic, Beig told the Free Press Journal: “As many things, including industries, factories and things that contribute to poor air quality, are closed and the citizens of Delhi are alarmed by the worst AQI in the nation’s capital, the AQI is not improving. lightly by each. Currently the AQI has moved from very bad to bad and we expect it to improve further to moderate. Compared to this, winter has set in in Mumbai and everything is working as usual, so it will continue to contribute to poor air quality. However, smart and effective measures urgently need to be taken to prevent Mumbai from becoming Delhi. “

Posted on: Wednesday December 08, 2021 23:05 IST