Mumbai amongst 17 most-polluted cities in Maharashtra: Pravin Pote-Patil

Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Environment Pravin Pote-Patil on 22 August 2017 informed that Mumbai is among the 17 most polluted cities of Maharashtra and 123 cities from the country. The data is based on the reports of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

While speaking at a one-day workshop on 'Clean Air Maharashtra Resolve 2022' in Mumbai, Patil said Mumbai and Navi Mumbai figure in the list of the most polluted cities and the state government intend to make Maharashtra pollution-free by 2022 by adopting various pollution control measures.

He informed that other cities that have been marked as having poor air quality by CPCB are Nagpur, Badlapur, Pune, Nashik and Ulhasnagar. The air quality in these cities is way below the prescribed pollution standards.

Patil informed that vehicles and factories are the main contributors to the air pollution in the state.

Bullock Cart Racing to remain banned in Maharashtra until rules are out: Bombay HC

Data on Vehicles in the State: State's Economic Survey for 2017 says that total 2.93 crore vehicles (all categories) are registered in the state. The figure includes

• Motorcycles: 2.14 crore

• Cars, jeeps: 41.51 lakh

• Taxis: 2.18 lakh

• Autorickshaws: 7.44 lakh

• Lorries: 14.98 lakh

• School buses: 24910

• Trailers: 3.96 lakh

• Tractors: 6.39 lakh

Data on Registered Industrial Units in the State: The Economic Survey says that the number of registered industrial units in the state in 2014-15 was 28601.

Strict action to be taken against violators of sex determination laws, Bombay HC

Solution to improve quality of air

According to Pote-Patil, in a bid to reduce air pollution caused by the industries, the government intends to implement solar power policy in the industries wherein the industries will make the initial investment of installing solar panels by 2019.

The industries will get a 30 per cent concession in electricity bills and after 15 years, these solar power generating units will be handed over to the industries, he said. The average life of these solar power generating units is around 40 years. The industries will enjoy free power for the next 35 years.

First three of 24 fast track courts for Maharashtra to be set up in Mumbai, Thane

Besides, he said that the municipal corporations in the state should allocate 25 per cent of their budgetary allocations towards pollution control measures and the task should be taken up as a mission mode.

(Source: PTI)