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Correspondent

21 August 2024 at 3:50:16 pm

Toxic Metropolis

The Bombay High Court’s latest warning to the city’s civic authorities exposes Mumbai’s air pollution crisis as a failure of civic accountability, and not merely an environmental challenge. The court has expressed alarm that the financial capital’s air pollution was rivalling, and at times surpassing, Delhi’s notorious smog. Describing the situation as an emergency, the court exposed the disturbing truth that Mumbai’s worsening air quality is not simply the consequence of weather or...

Toxic Metropolis

The Bombay High Court’s latest warning to the city’s civic authorities exposes Mumbai’s air pollution crisis as a failure of civic accountability, and not merely an environmental challenge. The court has expressed alarm that the financial capital’s air pollution was rivalling, and at times surpassing, Delhi’s notorious smog. Describing the situation as an emergency, the court exposed the disturbing truth that Mumbai’s worsening air quality is not simply the consequence of weather or urbanisation but a failure of governance. For decades, Mumbai took comfort in its coastal advantage. However congested its roads or relentless its construction boom, the Arabian Sea offered the promise of cleansing breezes that would disperse at least some of the city’s accumulated pollutants. But today, the sea breeze offers no guarantee of clean air. The High Court’s latest intervention is particularly damning because it follows years of judicial directions aimed at curbing air pollution. The bench criticised the inadequate enforcement of restrictions on firecrackers, construction dust and other sources of pollution, questioning whether the authorities were genuinely committed to implementing the measures they had been ordered to follow. This is not the first time the judiciary has expressed frustration. In January, the High Court warned that the salaries of senior civic commissioners could be stopped over non-compliance with pollution-control orders. Its latest rebuke suggests that repeated judicial admonitions have not produced the urgency the situation demands. Construction dust offers a particularly visible example of this failure. Mumbai’s relentless redevelopment and infrastructure expansion have transformed its skyline, but development cannot be permitted to proceed at the expense of public health. Builders who flout these rules must face meaningful penalties, while municipal officials who overlook violations must be held answerable. Traffic emissions, waste burning and poorly managed dumping grounds have all contributed to Mumbai’s pollution burden. The Kanjurmarg landfill, which processes a substantial share of the city’s daily waste, has drawn scrutiny over methane, foul odour and its environmental impact. Addressing such problems requires scientific monitoring, transparent data and sustained coordination among the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the police. The High Court has also raised an important question about the credibility of official assurances. Citywide averages and readings from relatively cleaner locations can conceal the conditions faced by people living beside congested roads, construction sites and waste facilities. Pollution monitoring must therefore be granular and linked to enforcement. Authorities should publish ward-wise compliance records, identify repeat offenders and establish clear timelines for corrective action. The public must be able to judge progress by cleaner air, not by the number of notices issued or meetings convened. Clean air is fundamental to public health and the right to life. The Bombay High Court has now made the cost of official indifference unmistakably clear.

Bad Roads, Ugly Politics

Suyash Padate
Nov 1, 2024
2 min read

The pathetic state of roads in Mumbai city as well as its suburbs has made daily commute a dangerous affair. The residents are miffed with the BMC over its lackadaisical attitude. Mumbaikars tweet photos, post videos to grab attention, but everything is in vain. Who cares for the common people. Backbreaking journeys have become part and parcel of life. Political leaders are busy mud-slinging.


This year the monsoon took a break after almost four and half months. During this time some of the roads virtually became non commutable. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde first announced to make Mumbai roads pothole free.


Its almost two years now the BMC has concretised only 9 percent of roads it planned to concretise. This decision was taken when it came to light that due to the properties of bitumen in asphalt roads, potholes are a regular occurrence due to contact with water during monsoons.


Hence, to solve the problem of potholes, the corporation has adopted a policy of cement concreting of 6-meter-wide roads in phases. The decision was taken but the dilly-dallying affair made things more difficult.


Mumbai’s traffic does put a lot of strain on roads which is not the case in the other developed countries. Second most important aspect is concretisation of roads is done partly and in phases.


The worst problem which is faced is repeated digging for cables and drainage, which weakens the roads. Above all corruption in BMC makes matters worse as a result everything comes to grinding halt.


According to experts, repairing potholes is a reaction with symptomatic treatment. By and large we are dispensing superficial treatment without addressing the root cause. The long-term solution will be to have roads with no potholes but what we need is the means and technology to achieve this. But for this political will is necessary which we lack on every step.


Mumbaikar’s are convience that corruption in the municipal corporation is the main reason. Contractors have had a monopoly over the last 20 years and this is the reason why reputed companies never come ahead for these projects.


As a result, in the name of attendance and repair, the BMC does shoddy work. Crores are spent but the end result is nothing. The BMC is not paying attention to the crust. If the crust is weak, potholes will see an increase. Without any thought or technical know-how, potholes are filled with cold mix.


This is the reason why the city and suburbs continue to have craters on the roads.


Craters, a serious threat to the safety and security of people. Mumbaikars fade up from their repeated visits to orthopedic surgeons.


They are in a mood to teach a proper lesson to those who were at the helm of the affairs.

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