Your morning walk comes with a health concern
- Newsband
- 22 Sep, 2026
Your morning walk comes with a health concern
Vashi: Heavy showers have failed to clear the haze over Navi Mumbai, with air quality deteriorating over the past few days. Vashi, one of the city’s major residential and commercial zones, recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 172, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) air quality dashboard.
Residents and morning joggers at the Vashi mini seashore said they have been experiencing a smoky and hazy atmosphere for nearly a week. The combination of poor air quality, heat and humidity has raised concerns among regular visitors.
“Since the past few weeks, there has been an on-and-off smoky atmosphere. It is very hot and humid also. Such an atmosphere is certainly not good for health. We are inhaling bad air which could damage our lungs instead of improving our health,” said Dr Sachin Bheda, a general physician and regular runner at the Vashi mini seashore.
Residents also claimed that the AQI has touched nearly 200 during early morning hours. “It is worrying that the AQI has reached around 200 in the morning. People are being exposed to unhealthy air, and this needs immediate attention,” said resident Kumar.
Environmental activists attributed the deterioration to widespread construction activity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, dust and particulate matter, vehicular emissions and industrial pollution.
Residents also pointed to the heavy movement of commercial vehicles serving the Vashi APMC market. “These commercial vehicles from different parts of the country are also contributors to the air quality of the city. There has to be stringent checking on them,” Kumar added.
Shiv Sena corporator Kishor Patkar alleged that NMMC’s environmental initiatives have not translated into visible action.
“The tall claims made by the ruling party like environment policy and releasing of near-space balloons equipped with sensors to track pollutants at different altitudes and identify hotspots has been only eye-wash. We don’t see any actual work; the various policies that they speak about remain only on paper,” Patkar said.
Mayor Sujata Patil said, “We are taking an elaborate report from the administration about the action taken on the various policies approved recently. Regarding this also I will take a report in the upcoming general body meeting.”
Suggested Graphic Box
VASHI AIR QUALITY SNAPSHOT
- AQI: 172
- Category: Unhealthy
- Reported concern: Early-morning AQI nearing 200
- Key pollutants/sources: Dust • Construction • Vehicle emissions • Industrial activity
- Hotspot: Vashi Mini Seashore
- Concern: Exposure of joggers, senior citizens and vulnerable groups
- Demand: Stricter dust and vehicle-emission checks
- Agency: NMMC / CPCB monitoring
Follow Us
Related Posts
