Navi Mumbai: Despite Navi Mumbai residents bursting fewer crackers this Diwali than last year, air quality was poor because of less rain and lower wind flow, environmentalists said.
As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Navi Mumbai was the third-most polluted place in Mumbai from October 21 to 23. Malad and Andheri took the top two spots.
“It wasn’t raining, like it was till two weeks ago, and so the pollution increased. The direction of the wind, which was from ocean to land, is now reversed, and the flow of the wind has reduced from 10–12 kmph to 8–9 kmph. The solubility and the drift of the smoke has gone down, causing it to stay in the atmosphere for a longer period,” said activist Mangesh Ranawade.
Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) regional officer Anil Mohekar said the air quality was poorest in Koparkhairane. “During Diwali, industrial units were shut, so there was no added pollution by them,” Mr. Mohekar said.
The MPCB has referred to data from the air quality monitoring stations of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), which collect real-time data on suspended particulate matter (SPM), a combination of both small (PM 2.5) and big particulate matter (PM 10). Air quality is judged by SPM, and the standard is 200 microgram per cubic metre.
Mr. Mohekar said Koparkhairane recorded 259 SPM, Turbhe came second with 209 SPM, while Airoli recorded 103 SPM during Diwali this year. “Although fewer crackers were burst, the release of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide was more. The air quality was rated as ‘very poor’ by SAFAR with air quality index at 344 after Diwali,” Mr. Mohekar said.
The MPCB official said an increase in nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide in the air causes respiratory problems and affects the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
