The seemingly better planned and greener belt of Kharghar-Panvel is filling the lungs of its residents with fine particles, particularly in the morning hours, a study has found. Air quality data collected from the area shows higher pollutant levels than permissible limits on most days.

With the help of low-cost monitors, NGO Waatavaran Foundation tracked particulate matter or PM2.5 for two hours starting 6 am every day between November 13 and December 13 at MIDC-Taloja, Sector 13 (Panvel), Sector 36 (Kharghar), Navade-Taloja and Sector 7 (Kharghar).