The Bombay High Court, during a session on Thursday, expressed concern over the recurring issue of air pollution in Mumbai, particularly following the Diwali celebrations. Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Girish Kulkarni questioned if there would ever be a lasting solution to the haze that blankets the city each year, or if residents would have to endure this annually.
The court, which had taken suo moto cognizance of the city’s deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) in 2023, highlighted the lack of adherence to its previous directives, such as the restricted hours for bursting firecrackers during Diwali—a rule largely ignored, with fireworks observed well into the early morning hours.
Addressing the broader scope of the pollution problem, the bench pointed to several contributing factors, including the extensive use of wood and coal by city bakeries and the increasing number of vehicles on the road. The justices proposed banning bakeries from using wood or coal and suggested a shift towards gas. They also advocated for the promotion of CNG and electric vehicles over traditional petrol and diesel cars to mitigate vehicular emissions.
The court criticized the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for its stance that development must be weighed against clean air, a choice the court found unacceptable. Milind Sathe, senior counsel representing the BMC, defended the civic body’s position, stating that while development cannot cease, measures to mitigate pollution are being implemented. However, the court remained unconvinced that these actions were sufficient to tackle the escalating pollution levels.
