Mumbai: Most air quality monitoring stations lack real-time data

While activists are demanding for more air quality monitoring stations across Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to accurately quantify the magnitude of the air pollution crisis, 13 out of 16 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) installed across MMR are yet to provide any data online.

Currently, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has a total of 16 CAAQMS, which monitor air quality based on 12 parameters mandated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009). Only three of the 16 CAAQMS located at Sion, Bandra and Worli provide real-time data on its website, while all others display the message, 'no data available'.

These CAAQMS, which were installed for around 1.60 crores, have been set up at Kalyan, Mahape, Vasai, Nerul, Borivali, Kandivali, Mulund, Vile Parle, Kurla, Powai, Airport, Colaba and KJ Somaiya Hospital apart from Sion, Bandra and Worli.

As per sources in MPCB, there is a growing demand to set up CAAQMS in industrial areas like Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Taloja.

"What is the point of having CAAQMS if the data cannot be accessed by common man," asked a Borivali-based social activist Gopal Jhaveri. "It's been 10 months since these stations have been inaugurated. Yet I have to rely on VMS setup outside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to track air quality in Borivali since no data is available on anywhere," he said.

Stressing on the importance of making the data available, Dr Awkash Kumar, an IIT alumni and founder of Sustainable Approach for Green Environment (SAGE) said, "It not only builds awareness about air pollution but also certain people with respiratory illness or allergies can take precautions based on this data."

Currently, Mumbai has 10 air quality monitoring stations set up by System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) under the Ministry of Earth Science that monitors AQI whose data is available through a dedicated smartphone application as well as website. However, the data of SAFAR is always contested by the MPCB officials for not being accurate.

Speaking about it, a senior MPCB official said that the problem arose due to some minor technical issues, which will be resolved soon.

As per sources in MPCB, there is a growing demand to set up CAAQMS in industrial areas like Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Taloja. "We are also looking at setting up new CAAQMS in some of the industrial belts whose work will be initiated soon," said the official.

NO DATA AVAILABLE

Currently, the MPCB has a total of 16 CAAQMS, which monitor air quality based on 12 parameters mandated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2009). 

Only three of the 16 CAAQMS located at Sion, Bandra and Worli provide real-time data on its website, while others display the message, ‘no data available’

Currently, Mumbai has 10 air quality monitoring stations set up by SAFAR whose data is available through a dedicated smartphone application as well as website

However, the data of SAFAR is always contested by the MPCB officials for not being accurate