10 new air monitoring stations in final phase

Mumbai: Mumbai will soon have 10 new air monitoring stations by the end of this month. Officials from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) stated that new stations are in final stage of installation. The air monitoring stations were stipulated to start by April, however it was delayed due to technical issues.

The new continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) will be set up at Borivali, Kandivali, Mulund, Vile Parle, Kalina and Kurla among other places. Apart from these areas, stations will also be located at Worli, Powai, Sion and Colaba. Apart from Mumbai, seven other stations will be installed in Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai-Virar and Kalyan-Dombivali. The city will have around 18 air monitoring stations including the air monitoring stations by System of Air Quality and weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

“We were earlier going to install the air monitoring stations by April. However, due to technical glitches there was a delay in importing some of the devices. We have commissioned the monitoring stations and it is in its installation phase," said V.M. Motghare, joint director - air, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

The new air monitoring stations are a part of the comprehensive draft action plan made by MPCB to curb Mumbai's air pollution.

As per the directions of Central Pollution Control Board, the MPCB is working on an action plan for the state. MPCB will add the parameter of PM 2.5 in the manual air monitoring stations across the state. As of now, the manual stations did not have this particulate matter. The PM 2.5 are the particles that are two and a half microns or less in width, whose elevated levels could lead to poor visibility and health concerns in the affected areas.