Pre-monsoon showers to hit Mumbai next week
After a gruelling few weeks of a heatwave, Mumbaikars can expect cooler temperatures post-May 21st. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), rain and thunderstorms are expected in parts of Maharashtra, including South Maharashtra, Konkan, Marathwada, and Vidarbha.
“The exact date of the onset of the monsoon over Maharashtra can be predicted after the onset of the monsoon over the Kerala mainland. Until then, a variety of factors may influence or disturb the monsoon equatorial flow,” said an official from IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai. Monsoon is expected to hit Kerala by May 27th.
Source: Mid-day
Air quality in Mumbai is now worse than in Delhi
On May 19th, Mumbai recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 309 – worse than that of Delhi, considered the most polluted city in the country, which stands at 191.
According to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Mumbai’s air quality is likely to remain in the very poor category over the weekend. These conditions could be difficult for those with respiratory issues.
Among areas monitored by SAFAR, Malad was the most polluted location with an AQI of 353, followed by Mazgaon at 330. Woli and Navi Mumbai had moderate AQI levels. A combination of high moisture and humidity has forced rising smoke and dust to linger in the air, making the citys overall air quality very poor.
Source: The Times of India
A new outstation terminus for Jogeshwari
The railway board has sanctioned Rs crore for a terminus to be constructed at Jogeshwari for long-distance trains. Because of rising traffic, existing terminals are expected to get saturated. Now seventh in the city, the new terminus will allow trains from Mumbai Central and Bandra to be shifted to Jogeshwari.
To further make things easier for commuters, the Jogeshwari terminus will be connected to the metro lines 7 and 6 as well as suburban railway lines.
The proposal for the terminus was first sent to the railway board in November 2021. “We plan to run Train 18 type of trains which, like suburban locals, can be operated from both ends of a rake and there will be no need to attach locomotives to pull them in and out of a platform. As Indian Railways is opening up to private trains, this new terminus will become a necessity,” said a senior official from Western Railways.
Source: The Times of India
Read more: Mumbai’s suburban railway cannot carry its population, but there is a solution
75 hectares of mangroves at risk due to Panvel-Uran coastal road
The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has approached the state forest department for permission to divert 43.42 hectares of mangroves in Uran taluka of Raigad district to make way for a six-lane coastal road connecting Belpada wetland area to the ports North Gate at Nhava Sheva.
The roads are meant to provide better connectivity between Belapur, Kharghar and Nerul in the north and the JNPA special economic zone (SEZ) and upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in the south.
While JNPA – India’s largest container terminal – has contended that no non-forest activities have taken place in the area, to date, and there is no violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, environmentalists have strongly objected to the project.
“Belpada is a mangrove-rich wetland which has been completely buried over in the last two years. Despite our several complaints, the forest and environment departments are yet to initiate any action against JNPA for allowing this to happen under their supervision. The port authority should not be allowed to regularise these violations in the guise of seeking forest clearance,” said BN Kumar, director of Navi Mumbai-based environment NGO NatConnect Foundation.
Source: Hindustan Times
Navi Mumbai civic body will provide green bins at Vashi gardens for green waste
Green waste in parks and gardens has been piling up, and to resolve the issue, the garden department of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has allocated 122 green bins for 30 public gardens in Vashi.
According to residents, the civic body was notified for a year about piles of green waste at gardens that ultimately attracted other kinds of waste as well. The NMMC garbage van failed to collect green waste daily, adding to the problem.
This new initiative will cost the corporation about Rs 2 lakh. “This is a pilot project wherein we have provided slightly bigger green bins exclusively for gardens so that the green waste is not left unattended. After observing the results, we will have similar bins distributed across other parts as well,” said Jaideep Pawar, NMMC deputy municipal commissioner (gardens).
Source: Hindustan Times