New pan-Sobo residents group discusses air pollution points with govt reps
MUMBAI: Saturday noticed the primary assembly of a brand new SoBo coalition: the South Mumbai Residents Affiliation, an umbrella physique of residents’ teams from Colaba to Worli to Sewri. Helmed by Shiv Sena leaders Susieben Shah and Milind Deora, its first matter of dialogue unsurprisingly was air pollution, given minister Nitesh Rane’s current letter hinting at industrial actions on the Coastal Highway’s open areas.
Shah, who can be the final secretary of the Malabar Hills Residents Discussion board, held the assembly at Priyadarshini Park. “There’s a nice want for us SoBo residents to convene and remedy the problems we face, bringing coverage makers and politicians who’ve been voted into energy for our trigger,” she stated to the viewers.
Deora, underscoring the seriousness of the air pollution drawback, added, “Air air pollution shouldn’t be solely giving us respiratory points however decreasing our lifespans. The town’s rising AQI is likely one of the most burning points we face right this moment. We’re launching this affiliation to have common stakeholder consultations on South Mumbai’s residents’ issues.”
As the subject for dialogue was air pollution, Siddesh Kadam, chairman of the Maharashtra Air pollution Management Board (MPCB), had been invited. “As somebody who was born and introduced up in Bombay, I’ve seen it develop,” he stated. “And this growth has inevitably introduced air pollution. So the query is the place and how you can strike the stability. The Coastal Highway has helped scale back journey time tremendously however at what price?” Kadam acknowledged that there have been gaps within the implementation of the MPCB’s insurance policies.
With this, the ground was opened to the residents.
“Unregulated development is the most important explanation for air air pollution,” stated Vijay Datwani from the Excessive-Rise Societies Federation of Parel-Sewri-Lalbaug. “Development websites and vans are by no means coated, thickening the air with mud and cement. The air air pollution mitigation guidelines will not be enforced.”
Sudhir Behl, a resident of Altamount Highway, put the development mania all the way down to greed. “There are numerous buildings in fine condition, needing solely repairs, that are entering into for redevelopment as a result of the residents need greater and larger properties,” he stated, all fired up. In response, Kadam stated a coverage to manage and restrict redevelopment tasks was within the works.
Vehicular air pollution was one other concern, voiced by Aditi Jain of the Colaba-Cuffe Parade Residents Affiliation. “Our space has many industrial areas so we see an inflow of autos all day lengthy,” she stated. “There are not any parking areas left, which suggests autos maintain taking rounds, including to the air pollution and noise air pollution.”
Armed with an answer was Nandini Chhabria from the Breach Sweet Residents Discussion board. “The ocean has been taken away from us, and we’ve been given air pollution and respiratory points in return,” she stated. “However now we have an awesome alternative right here to show the Coastal Highway’s open areas right into a forest park which is able to scale back the air pollution and warmth.”
This dream was referred to as into doubt by architect Rahul Kadri of the Nepean Sea Highway Citizen’s Discussion board. “Initially the BMC concerned us within the making of the plans for the open areas,” he stated. “However they’ve now privatised their growth. We do not know what is going to come up there.” Whereas Deora and Kadam gave an assurance that solely open areas would prevail, uncertainty nonetheless hung within the air.
Noise air pollution additionally emerged as a troubling characteristic, with complaints of late-night development and noisy spiritual celebrations. Water air pollution was additionally touched upon, with the gradual development of town’s sewage remedy vegetation.
