Bombay HC Rejects Govt's Claim on Ethiopian Volcano Ash Impact on Mumbai's Air Quality

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The Bombay High Court has dismissed the government's claim that volcanic ash from the recent eruption in Ethiopia was responsible for poor air quality in Mumbai. The court pointed out that the city's air quality had been consistently poor even before the volcanic eruption. The high court was hearing a batch of petitions filed in 2023 on the issue of air pollution in Mumbai. According to the court, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) had been above 300 this month, indicating severe air pollution. The government had attributed the poor air quality to the Ethiopian volcanic eruption, but the court rejected this claim. The court noted that the visibility in Mumbai was poor even before the eruption, with visibility of less than 500 meters. The court also compared the situation in Mumbai with Delhi, where the AQI had been alarmingly high. The bench asked the government what effective measures could be taken to address the poor air quality in Mumbai. The matter has been posted for further hearing on Friday. On Thursday, Mumbai's AQI stood at 172, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer app. The city's AQI had been improving slightly, but remained in the moderate category. However, the court's rejection of the government's claim has highlighted the need for effective measures to address the city's air pollution issues.