₹620 Crore Spent on Air Quality Measures, but Mumbai’s Pollution Worsens
Mumbai: Despite significant financial investment, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is facing mounting criticism over its handling of air pollution control in the city. Under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP), Mumbai was identified as one of 131 non-attainment cities in India, continually failing to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
As part of efforts to tackle the issue, the central government allocated ₹95.5 crore, and a total of ₹620 crore has been provided under the 15th Finance Commission to the BMC for air quality management. In a recent progress report, the BMC stated that it had utilised 100% of the central government funds and 94% of the allocated funds under the 15th Finance Commission for various initiatives aimed at reducing pollution levels. The bulk of these funds, approximately ₹493 crore, were directed towards the procurement of electric buses for the BEST fleet. Other funds were used for smaller projects, including the purchase of mechanised street sweeping machines and the conversion of traditional crematoriums into electric or PNG-powered units.
However, despite these measures, environmentalists and activists argue that the results have been far from satisfactory. Critics assert that while electric buses may be a step in the right direction, the overarching issue of air pollution in Mumbai remains largely unaddressed. Debi Goenka, an environmentalist and trustee of the Conservation Action Trust, expressed concern over the lack of public consultation in the preparation and implementation of the Clean Air Plan. He remarked, “Spending money on electric buses was the easy way out, and also very lucrative for the decision makers, as these buses were ordered from a company that has failed to deliver most of them.” Goenka pointed out that critical sources of pollution, such as construction activities, industrial emissions, and biomass burning, have been largely overlooked in the city’s air quality management plan.
Zoru Bhathena, another activist, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Spending ₹10,000 crore to dig up every road and then spending ₹95 crore to address the pollution caused by all this digging makes no sense.” Bhathena emphasised the importance of preventing pollution at its source, rather than spending vast sums to mitigate its effects later. BMC officials, however, defended their efforts. A senior officer from the environment department explained that the ₹1240.25 crore allocated under the 15th Finance Commission was earmarked primarily for procuring electric buses, with a substantial portion of funds used for other initiatives such as dust mitigation, traffic management, and the conversion of bakeries and crematoriums to cleaner energy sources.
Yet, environmental activist Sumaira Abdulali criticised the BMC for its focus on measures that fail to address the root causes of pollution. She pointed out that extensive construction and reconstruction work in the city contributes significantly to the pollution problem. “The extremely high AQI and the rising levels of PM2.5, which are harmful to human health, indicate that hundreds of crore rupees spent under NCAP have not effectively controlled air pollution,” Abdulali said, highlighting the ongoing health risks faced by Mumbai residents. As the air quality in Mumbai continues to deteriorate, it is clear that the city’s fight against pollution requires more comprehensive and targeted solutions. While electric buses and other initiatives have their place, critics argue that the BMC must tackle pollution at its source to make a meaningful impact on the city’s air quality.
