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Tale of Mumbai’s rising trend of air pollution

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Every winter, smog-filled days and nights across entire north India are a common thing and by contrast, the western region looks much cleaner.

However, a new analysis of regional air pollution levels by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has shown that proximity to the sea has not helped in containing the increasing air pollution in the financial capital, Mumbai.

Even though winter pollution levels in the western region are not as high as that seen in the Indo-Gangetic Plains due to its proximity to the sea and improved ventilation, the levels have been seen to be increasing despite the geographical advantages and favourable meteorology, the CSE analysis said.

In other words, increasing air pollution is not restricted to winters but is now an yearlong problem in Mumbai too.

“The number of bad-air days in Mumbai have doubled between 2019 and 2021, while good days are down by 20 per cent. This underscores the urgency of scaling up action across all sectors to prevent further worsening and to arrest the trend in this region,” executive director, research and advocacy, CSE, Anumita Roychowdhury said.

This new analysis, released on Wednesday, of real time pollution data is part of CSE’s air quality tracker initiative and also has an assessment of annual and seasonal trends in PM2.5 concentration for the period January 1, 2019, to January 9, 2022.

This analysis is based on the real time data available from the current working air quality monitoring stations. Review of data availability from the automated monitoring stations in the region under the continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) programme of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows major data gaps. When it comes to data availability calculated as number of days with adequate PM2.5 data for computation of a valid 24-hour average, among Mumbai stations, Kurla in east-central Mumbai had only 55 per cent data while Malady (West) in north Mumbai came up with 68 per cent.

“It is not clear why these stations have such poor data availability despite minimal problems of electricity and internet connectivity in the region,” said CSE’s programme manager, Urban Data Analytics Lab, Avikal Somvanshi.

Like other cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, studied as part of the same analysis by CSE, Mumbai too has indicated a rising trend in annual PM2.5 levels after an initial drop during 2020 (when there were lockdowns) with a rebound and a rising trend visible in 2021.

The CSE analysis to indicate that the number of bad-air quality days are increasing in Mumbai is supported with Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Daily AQI analysis based on 10 oldest stations shows a 20 per cent drop in the number of good AQI days in the city between 2019 and 2021 — while days with poor or very poor AQI have doubled.

South Mumbai has the worst air within the city during winter: In December 2021, the stations in south Mumbai reported significantly higher PM2.5 levels compared to the rest of the city.

Mazgaon with a monthly average of 134 micrograms per cubic metres was the most polluted neighborhood of the city, followed by Navy Nagar, Colaba (124 micrograms per metre cube), Kurla (101 micrograms per metre cube), Vile Parle-West (101 micrograms per metre cube) and Worli (97 micrograms per metre cube).

Khindipada, in north Mumbai, which is at the edge of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the suburbs with a monthly average of 54 micrograms per metre cube was the least polluted neighborhood. Bandra and Malad (West) reported low numbers, but the values are not considered valid due to a significantly large amount of missing data from these two stations, the CSE analysis showed.

Maharashtra

Pahalgam terrorist attack Samajwadi Party protest against communalism Action should be taken against those who spread hatred and Minister Nitish Rane Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: In the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Samajwadi Party today organized a movement under the leadership of Mumbai/Maharashtra State President MLA Abu Asim Azmi at Azad Maidan Mumbai and demanded action against sectarians who are spoiling the social atmosphere by making hateful statements against the Muslim community.

Addressing the Jam Ghafir, Abu Asim Azmi said that we condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam but in such a sensitive context, the state minister is continuously making anti-Muslim statements and creating division between the two religions. Apart from this, Muslim hawkers were beaten up in Dadar and other parts of Mumbai. Due to which there has been a problem of law and order. Therefore, we demand strict action against Minister Nitish Rane and people like him who make statements against Muslims. According to the Supreme Court’s decision in the 2023 hate speech case, strict legal action should be taken against the guilty individuals and organizations, those who do not care about secularism, those who spread hatred, those who incite violence, those who give public threats, those who call for economic boycott, those who create division among people on the basis of religion, caste, region or language. The state, as per its duty, protects the fundamental rights and freedom of every citizen to do business, trade, and business. The state should protect the freedom and belief of every citizen, according to the articles of the Indian Constitution, there should be an environment of peace and justice in the state. It is demanded that the rule of law and justice should be established in the most transparent manner by implementing the law and by sternly admonishing the enemies of peace, law and constitution who violate the law.

The Samajwadi Party delegation submitted a protest request to Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Pansalkar. Hundreds of Samajwadi Party workers were present at that time, including Meraj Siddiqui, Yousuf Abrahani, Rahul Gaikwad, Kabir Maurya, Saeed Khan, Zeba Malik.

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Maharashtra

Deven Bharti Appointed as Mumbai Police Commissioner Following Vivek Phansalkar’s Retirement

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Mumbai, April 30, 2025: ( Kamar Ansari ) In a significant leadership transition, senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Deven Bharti has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Police for Mumbai, succeeding Vivek Phansalkar, who retired today after nearly three years in the role.

Phansalkar, a 1989-batch IPS officer, took charge as Mumbai Police Commissioner on June 30, 2022, during a period of political change in Maharashtra. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize the police force following a series of leadership changes. Prior to his appointment, the Mumbai Police saw a turbulent period with multiple commissioners serving brief terms .

Deven Bharti, a 1994-batch IPS officer, brings extensive experience to his new role. He previously served as Mumbai’s first Special Commissioner of Police, a position created in January 2023 to enhance administrative efficiency within the force . Bharti’s career includes key postings such as Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), and head of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Notably, he was involved in the investigations of major incidents, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks .

The appointment of Bharti as Commissioner is expected to bring continuity and a focus on law and order in Mumbai. His familiarity with the city’s challenges and his established rapport with various stakeholders position him to lead the force effectively.

As Mumbai navigates complex urban security dynamics, Bharti’s leadership will be pivotal in steering the police force to address emerging challenges and maintain public safety.

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Maharashtra

On April 30, the Muslim Personal Law Board had called for lighting candles from 9 pm to 9:15 pm against the Waqf Act, which was supported by all ideologies.

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Mumbai, April 29: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has announced the first phase of the protest against the Waqf Act, which will last for about three months. Under this, protests are being held all over the country. Small and big programs are being held in different areas, press conferences have been held, the work of creating awareness among the brothers and sisters is also going on. In the past few days, the Protection of Waqf Week was also observed, people expressed their grief and anger by wearing black bands. According to the roadmap of the Muslim Personal Law Board, the protest will continue until the Waqf Act is repealed.

In the next phase of the protest, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has appealed that on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 9 pm to 9:15 pm, people should protest against this black Waqf law in a democratic manner by keeping all the lights off in their houses, offices, malls, factories and other places.

Maulana Mahmood Ahmed Khan Daryabadi, Maharashtra convener of the Protection of Waqf Movement on behalf of the Board, said in his statement that Alhamdulillah, people of all schools of thought have supported this “Batti Gul” movement. They have come forward, so, Jamiat Ulema, Sunni Jamiat Ulema, Raza Academy, Jamaat Ahle Hadith, Jamaat-e-Islami, Shia people have released a regular video and appealed to all the justice lovers to sacrifice just fifteen minutes on April 30 from nine to nine-thirty at night and keep all the lights of their area off.

Maulana Daryabadi also said that there are many ways to raise voice against injustice in a democracy, processions, sit-ins, rallies, black belts, hunger strikes, arrests, etc. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided that the struggle against this cruel law will continue till the end, and all methods will be used according to the constitution and law. Similarly, turning off all the lights for some time and doing a complete “blackout” is also a democratic method. This method was also used against the British during India’s independence. The board officials have appealed to everyone to light the lights this time and make their voice heard all over the world. Maulana Daryabadi says that if twenty people of the entire country If millions of Muslims simultaneously observe a blackout, it will become international news and the whole world will become aware of the injustice being done to Indian Muslims. Therefore, it is a great opportunity for all of us to sacrifice just fifteen minutes of light and expose the oppressors to the whole world.

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