Urban Air Quality Management Strategy in Asia: Greater Mumbai Report

This report aims to assist policymakers in designing and implementing policies, in monitoring and devising management tools to restore air quality in Mumbai (Bombay), India's financial and commercial capital. Ninety-seven percent of the population lives in areas where the World Health Organization (WHO) and national guidelines for pollution are frequently and substantially exceeded. This report suggests an action plan containing abatement measures for the short, medium, and long terms. Recommended actions fall into two categories--institutional and technical. A single institution with a clear mandate and sufficient resources should be made responsible for air quality management. Also, capabilities for data gathering and processing should be improved throughout the city. Technically, clean vehicle standards should be established and strictly enforced. The switch from dirty to clean fuel, including to unleaded gasoline and low-sulfur diesel, should be completed. Another option for clean vehicles is introducing LPG- (liquid petroleum) and CNG-powered (compressed natural gas) vehicles. The use of low-smoke lubrication oil for 2-stroke engines is also an important policy measure. Gross polluters should be identified and penalized. Also, general traffic management would reduce congestion and pollution. Awareness raising by public and private groups including educational institutions is key to bringing about policy changes.