Nerul/Belapur: Rising air pollution in Navi Mumbai is raising concerns among residents and environmental activists, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining above 100 for a week. For 21-year-old Suman Desai, the deteriorating air quality has meant struggling with breathlessness, highlighting the growing health risks faced by the residents.

Despite the worsening situation, concrete action on the ground remains a concern, with civic authorities and pollution control officials facing questions over accountability and conflicting AQI readings.

Analysis by Newsband found that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) website recorded Navi Mumbai’s AQI at 103, while private monitoring platforms reported readings above 130. Activists have called for an investigation into these discrepancies and greater transparency in air quality monitoring.

“The government agency should be more transparent on the AQI issue, as it affects all age groups and every single citizen. The records of their monitoring system and maintenance should be made public,” said C.A. Vishnu Joshi, Convenor of Parsik Greens.

Joshi also flagged construction activity along the Atal Setu route, and the transportation of dust and construction waste on highways as possible contributors to deteriorating air quality. He warned that children, senior citizens and people with existing health conditions face greater risks.

Kapithra Kannapiran, Founder of Owe Earth, said, “Air pollution in Navi Mumbai is a man-made problem driven by industrial emissions, construction, traffic and unplanned redevelopment.”

She called for wider access to scientific monitoring, more Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), stronger industrial emission surveillance and better enforcement by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). She also stressed protecting green cover and promoting urban forests and green rooftops.

An NMMC official, speaking anonymously, said that the civic body was coordinating with MPCB, ensuring street cleaning, controlling dust emissions and inspecting industries for compliance with pollution-control procedures.

However, MPCB officials did not respond to queries about the AQI discrepancies and the effectiveness of existing measures, leaving activists to question whether the current efforts are producing any tangible results.