Now, ammonia leaves residents breathless in Mumbai

After last week’s chlorine gas leak at Mumbai Port Trust (MbPT), an ongoing incidence of ammonia gas emission has become a cause for concern for Wadala residents.

Residents claim the gas is leaking from a nearby Rashtriya Chemical Fertilisers (RCF), which has a history of complaints from residents in Chembur. The yellow-coloured fumes have now started reaching buildings in Dosti Acres and Bhakti Park in Wadala (East), and Antop Hill.

Residents allege that RCF’s blatant release of ammonia in the air has increased cases of breathlessness, throat infection, asthma and respiratory disorders.

“I shifted to Dosti Acres in January and I have to say the presence of RCF in a predominantly residential area is absolutely unwanted and a potential danger. RCF has been an offender for a long time. It has a history of complaints and cases against it.

Children are the worst sufferers in Dosti Acres. There is also a dust problem due to monorail work,” said Bipin Pandit, a resident of Blossom building in Dosti Acres.

“The ammonia settles on the grounds in a garden in Bhakti Park and affects morning walkers who are mainly senior citizens. This is a peculiar problem here. The odour is so strong that even the furniture and cutlery inside cupboards smell of ammonia,” said Shirish Sadale, who resides in Cosmic Heights, Bhakti Park.

For Arhant Jain, another resident from Dosti, a visit to the doctor for throat and chest congestion is a regular affair. “We get to inhale the fumes even after 11pm in spite of living on the third floor,” said Jain.

After several complaints from the managing committee of Blossom Building, an ambient air-quality monitoring device was installed in the building recently by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

When NR Kamat, deputy general manager, RCF, was queried, he said, “Whatever the emissions, they are steam vapours coming out from our pollution control equipment, and are below the prescribed limit. We have installed water scrubbers. It’s not ammonia that’s released in the air.”

However, an analytical report submitted by MPCB on June 11 states that the smell of ammonia gas is felt when the level hovers between 255 and 372, though the allowable limit is 200.

The report also states the suspended particulate matter (SPM) is 1502, and sometimes 811, against the allowable limit of 200; respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) is 164, as against 100.  However, is says this could also be due to the cumulative effect of vehicular movement, on-going infrastructure projects and ready-mix concrete.

BD Wadde, regional officer, MPCB, said, “Ammonia may be harmful, but there’s huge dilution when released in the air in the area, as ammonia fumes get scrubbed for fertiliser urea by RCF’s pollution monitoring unit.”