Mumbai's Diwali Pollution Under Scanner As Awaaz Foundation Reports Late-Night Crackers And Misleading AQI Displays

Mumbai's Diwali night on November 8 saw firecrackers being burst past the 10 pm deadline in multiple locations, according to the Awaaz Foundation's report. The anti-pollution campaigner observed firecrackers being set off along Carter Road, Marine Drive, and other spots. Despite police presence in certain areas, the report found that the ban on late-night firecracker bursting was still flouted.

Residents lodged numerous complaints about the use of firecrackers, particularly between 10 pm and 6 am. However, decibel readings could not be taken this year due to the sporadic nature of the firecracker usage. The Awaaz Foundation also discovered inconsistencies in air quality readings between construction-site monitors and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) stations.

While the construction-site monitors in Bandra and Khar reported PM2.5 levels of 50.4 µg/m³, the CPCB readings for the same areas showed an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 231, which is classified as 'poor'. The organization also pointed out that several air pollution monitoring displays were either non-functional or showing incorrect readings, adding to the lack of reliable local data for residents.