CLEAN AND GREEN Civic body claims its efforts to provide better roads and sanitation contributed to healthier environment
CBD BELAPUR: The annual Environment Status Report released by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) claims that the Quality of Life Index (QOLI) in 2014-15 has improved by 0.64% as compared to 2013-14.
According to the report, the Environment Quality Index (EQI) too has increased from 70.69% in the previous year to 71.38% this year. The Urban Infrastructure Index (UII) shows an increase of 79.65% against 79.06% last year.
The Quality of Life Index is measured on the basis of these two parameters.
The NMMC has been using the parameters of EQI, UII and QLI since 2001-2002 to report the environment status in the city.
While EQI indicates the environment status in the city with respect to air, noise, water and earth pollution, UII measures the standard of civic services and infrastructure in the city. The Quality of Life Index is based on the results of EQI and UII.
After the Environmental Status Report assessed every year, the civic body starts chalking out priority for short and long-term action.
NMMC city engineer Mohan Dagaonkar said, “The overall increase in value of EQI is due to the completion of concretisation of the roads and major junctions, higher share in recycling of plastic from municipal solid waste, continuous monitoring of water quality and disinfection by chlorination and so on.”
An increase in value of Urban Infrastructure Index is due to increase in the development of sanitation facilities by increasing the number of toilets in slum areas, transportation of solid waste through use of compactors, improvement in footpaths for the physically challenged and improvement in gardens and road side greenery.
Dagaonkar said: “The overall effect of Environment Quality Index and UII is that there is increase in QOLI for citizens. It is 75.52% this year against 74.88% last year.”
The city engineer said that the NMMC has provided the best possible urban infrastructure and environment. “It is evident from the fact that the Navi Mumbai has been adjudged as the third cleanest in the country and has also been included in the Centre’s smart city project,” he added.
He said: “The NMMC’s mission is to protect, enhance and restore the natural environment for the well-being of all citizens residing in NMMC jurisdiction. The NMMC shall continue its efforts for better environment and better quality of life for citizens.”
The NMMC started publishing the Environment Status Report in 2001-2002 and uses indexes t o help gauge t he status and the improvement. After a series of analysis and research, it decided to use the Environment Quality Index, Urban Infrastructure Index and Quality of Life Index as parameters for its annual environment report.
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