today

Thane is perhaps the only city in Maharashtra where immersions during the Ganpathi festival will be done without any damage to the natural lakes. This prevents nearly 2.5 lakh kg of Plaster Of Paris from entering and contaminating the lakes along with 35000 kg of colour. This is not biodegradable Trenches about 15 feet deep have been dug next to the six big lakes in the city, which are usually used to immerse the idols. This allows immersion of the idols and should be used wherever possible for a happy Ganesh festival.

Aparat from this, Mumbai air is practically unbreathable. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has declared that those living in areas like Worli, Khar, Andheri, Bhandup, Borivli and Maravli have to watch out because what they are breathing in are poisons like sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), nitrogen dioxide (NO3), suspended particulate material (SPM) and lead. Nitrogen dioxide levels were exceeded at Khar and Maravli (near Borivli). Ammonia levels were exceeded at Maravli and the level of SPM levels were exceeded at all sites.

Generally, air pollution levels are lower during monsoon and high during winter.

Thane Creek is highly polluted. BOD level increasing by almost five times to 640 mg/lt between 2004-05 and this year. This poses a severe threat to aquatic life in these waters.

SPM (suspended particulate matter) contains dangerous chemicals like Benzo pyrene and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), considered to a potent carcinogenic compound.
Beyond Mumbai, highest SPM levels have been recorded at Pune (very high), Chandrapur, Nashik and Solapur.