Varsha Gaikwad accuses Mahayuti government of turning Mumbai into a gas chamber

A day after the Bombay High Court expressed concern over Mumbai’s worsening air quality and directed the formation of a five-member committee to monitor construction-related pollution, Congress leader and former Maharashtra Minister Varsha Gaikwad on Saturday accused the Mahayuti government of turning Mumbai into a “gas chamber” under the guise of development, as the city grapples with hazardous air quality. Ms. Gaikwad demanded urgent intervention to tackle rising pollution levels, citing a Harvard University study that estimates nearly 5,100 deaths annually in Mumbai due to pollution-related illnesses. The Bombay High Court on Friday formed a five-member panel to audit construction-site pollution.

Speaking at a press conference organised by Mumbai Congress, Ms. Gaikwad and party workers wore oxygen masks to underline the severity of the crisis. She called for a comprehensive pollution control plan, strict enforcement of environmental norms and protection of green spaces, warning that unchecked development and violations of environmental safeguards were pushing the city into a public health emergency.

“These are not just numbers. These are families losing their loved ones,” Ms. Gaikwad said, referring to the Harvard study. “Children are falling sick, senior citizens are struggling to breathe. If this is not a public health emergency, then what is?”

She accused the Mahayuti government of following a “contractor-first, people-last model,” alleging rampant construction without safeguards, violations of environmental norms, allocation of open spaces and eco-sensitive zones to favoured builders and reckless tree cutting. She said the administration’s approach lacked accountability and urgency, adding that Mumbai Congress would not allow contractors and cronies to decide the city’s future.

She also took to social media platform X to highlight the matter and wrote, “STOP CHOKING MUMBAI! LET OUR CITY BREATHE. PM 2.5 levels in Mumbai are hazardous. A Harvard University study estimates that nearly 5,100 Mumbaikars die annually due to pollution. This is not just a statistic. These are families losing loved ones. And yet, the corrupt Mahayuti government continues its contractor-first, people-last model.”

Citing various causes responsible for the air pollution, Ms. Gaikwad continued, “Rampant construction without safeguards, blatant violation of environmental norms, gifting open spaces and eco-sensitive zones to Laadka builders, reckless cutting of trees, zero accountability and zero urgency. Mumbai is being turned into a gas chamber in the name of development. Children are falling sick. The elderly are struggling to breathe. If this is not a public health emergency, what is?”

Demanding immediate action from the ruling government, she suggested a strong pollution control plan, strict enforcement of norms, protection of green cover and accountability for every violator. “Mumbai Congress will not allow contractors and cronies to decide the fate of Mumbai. We will fight for Mumbaikars’ right to clean air. We will fight for our city’s right to live,” she wrote.