The Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday, wrote to the Centre on the rising air pollution in Mumbai.
In a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, Mr. Thackeray said that widespread construction activities and lack of adequate supervision to control them were leading to air pollution in the country’s financial capital.
“Maharashtra does not have an independent Environment Minister to look into the issue and in the past six months, the air quality in Mumbai has consistently been rated as “Poor” to “Very Poor” on the Air Quality Index,” he said.
Lacking effective supervision
He said that the entire city was undergoing construction, causing a large amount of dust and debris, much of which was left unattended and unchecked. “Measures are needed to help the Urban Development Department and local bodies understand the consolidated impact construction has on the city’s environment,” the former Minister said, adding that construction activity in Mumbai was widespread and lacked effective supervision.
“The city has refineries and fertiliser plants on its eastern coast, and the round-the-clock industrial activity there is having a direct impact on the air quality in the city. Residents in the vicinity of places like Mahul or Wadala are feeling the impact of the poor air quality and foul smell,” he said.
He urged the Union Minister for the Centre’s intervention to evaluate and relocate the plants away from the city and direct the relevant stakeholders in the civic administration to establish a climate cell, as was suggested by the policy plan.
Superstar-Thackeray meeting
Meanwhile, Superstar Rajinikanth on Friday met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree, the Thackerays’ residence in suburban Bandra here. “An absolute delight to have Shri. Rajnikant ji at Matoshri once again,” Mr. Aaditya Thackeray said.
According to party leaders, it was a courtesy visit to the Thackeray family as the actor was the supporter of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray.
