The ward is sitting on a ticking time bomb. The air is heavy with pollutants owing to the mounds of garbage at the nearby dumping ground in Deonar, and choked drains are an open invitation to dengue and malaria
Heavy traffic outside the Chembur monorail station is among the three primary sources of air pollution in the ward. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi
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The ward is sitting on a ticking time bomb. The air is heavy with pollutants owing to the mounds of garbage at the nearby dumping ground in Deonar, and choked drains are an open invitation to dengue and malaria. Besides, the ongoing monorail construction work holds up traffic for hours together.
Potholes cover a road near Mysore Colony in Chembur. Residents allege that the poor upkeep of roads and traffic logjams are responsible for a number of accidents
Pollution problems: Residents blame a number of ailments on the worsening air quality. The air becomes heavy with toxic pollutants — most released from the Deonar dumpyard — even in early mornings. Many residents complain of eye infections and breathing problems. Monsoon worsens the crisis.
As per data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research, a research-based initiative of the central government, Chembur is Mumbai’s most polluted suburb. On some days, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Chembur has crossed 250 mg/cubic metre, which is considered dangerous. The recommended standard for PM2.5 is 25 mg/cubic metre in a 24-hour period, and 10 mg/cubic metre annually. PM2.5 reduce visibility. It can last in the air for days or weeks.
Traffic troubles: Owing to the underway monorail construction, roads have become narrower. Residents say prior to taking up the work, the roads should have been widened to allow for smooth flow of traffic. Besides, roads near the Amar Mahal junction and Suman Nagar are riddled with potholes. They were repaired right before the onset of monsoon, but all of the work came undone during spells of heavy rain. Locals claim that officials have ignored repeated pleas to construct foot overbridges to ease traffic.
Mosquito menace: As if tackling air pollution wasn’t enough, dengue and malaria are also on the residents’ plate. Last year, more than 100 breeding spots of mosquitoes were found in the ward by the BMC. This year, around 130 confirmed cases of dengue — the highest in the city — have been reported from here. A 19-year-old resident of Chembur even died of suspected dengue this year. Drains are allegedly not cleaned properly, which leaves locals open to contracting vector-borne diseases.
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