The BMC addressed Mumbai’s depleting air quality levels in Saturday’s budget, with an elaborate seven-step plan to combat air pollution issues. In a first, it has allotted Rs 25 crore specifically towards improving air quality.

Introducing the plan in his budget speech, BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal suggested a slew of measures, including power sweepers for dust cleaning; sprinklers to settle the dust on roads and footpaths; deployment of vehicle-mounted misting equipments and vehicle-mounted air purification units; and ionic air purification system for dust mitigation. The BMC has decided to set up air purifiers in five crowded locations in the city. “We will not replicate Delhi’s air purifier models, but the Lucknow model. It is good to do something rather than nothing to curb pollution,” he said.