Bombay HC rejects Ethiopian ash blame for Mumbai AQI, urges action
Bombay HC rejects Ethiopian ash blame for Mumbai AQI, urges action
Mumbai's air quality worsens even before the Ethiopian eruption; court rejects ash blame and calls for concrete pollution-control steps.
In a fresh turn on the long-running debate over Mumbai's air quality, a bench of the Bombay High Court said authorities cannot pin the city\'s dirty air on volcanic ash from the Hayli Gubbi eruption in Ethiopia. The hearing on pleas dating back to 2023 focused on the city\'s air quality index, which has frequently hovered in the \'very poor\' range. Petitioners argued that the eruption two days prior worsened conditions, while government counsel urged that the ash cloud helped explain recent spikes. The court rejected that line of reasoning, noting that even before the eruption, visibility was poor and the AQI had already been high.
During the proceedings, the judges pressed officials on what concrete steps can be taken to curb pollution in the near term, drawing a contrast with Delhi, where emissions and weather patterns have drawn alarm. The court asked what effective measures could be implemented, and whether city authorities have robust action plans for traffic management, industrial emissions, and public health advisories.
Experts have pointed to multiple factors behind Mumbai\'s air woes, including vehicular pollution, wind patterns, and seasonal variations. The court\'s decision underscored the need for accountability and a clearer mechanism to monitor and reduce pollution, rather than attributing blame to distant natural events. The case now goes back for further hearing, with a focus on policy responses, enforcement, and accountability across agencies.
City residents continue to experience days with \'very poor\' AQI, with some neighborhoods reporting dense smog that affects visibility and health. Public health advisories have urged residents to reduce outdoor exertion when air quality deteriorates, while schools and businesses brace for fluctuations. The high court\'s stance could influence how the city frames and executes pollution-control measures in the coming months, including curb on old vehicles, cleaner public transport options, and stricter industrial norms.
Cover image source: 'This is what's happening inside you': Comedian Vir Das has a smoky take on Mumbai air quality | Watch 🔗
