Mumbai, November 27, 2025 – As Mumbai grapples with rising air pollution, entrepreneur and Shark Tank India judge Vineeta Singh has voiced urgent concerns over the deteriorating air quality in the city, calling for stricter measures akin to those implemented in China and South Korea. Singh, co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics, highlighted the health risks posed by poor air quality and urged authorities to adopt proactive policies to curb pollution.

In a video shared on her Instagram handle on Thursday, Singh drew attention to Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which had crossed 160 in the morning, entering the upper range of the “moderate” category. “When I went out today, I saw little school kids standing at bus stops, elderly people walking, and my own son has gone for a school picnic. People exercising are actually doubling their breaths per minute, increasing their exposure to harmful pollutants,” she said, emphasizing the need for urgent interventions.

Singh cited findings from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), warning that one in nine Indians may develop cancer in their lifetime if measures to control pollution are not implemented. She noted that lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women are among the leading causes of cancer in India, directly linking rising pollution levels to public health concerns.

The entrepreneur questioned whether authorities would wait for the situation to worsen before acting. “Will action be taken only when AQI crosses 200 in the city?” she asked, highlighting the risks posed to vulnerable populations including children, the elderly, and outdoor workers.

Among the measures Singh suggested, she proposed pausing construction activities during high-pollution months and implementing strict dust and pollution control protocols at construction and industrial sites, citing China and South Korea as models for effective regulatory interventions. Additionally, she suggested exploring cloud seeding techniquesas a potential alternative to reduce air pollution in Mumbai, given the city’s humid climate.

According to official data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Mumbai’s AQI had hovered close to the “poor” category in the past few days. On Wednesday, the city’s overall AQI stood at 198, up from 168 on Tuesday, just three points shy of the “poor” threshold. As per the CPCB’s same-day 2 pm bulletin, the city’s overall AQI on Thursday was 172, although six monitoring stations recorded readings in the ‘poor’ category. Mulund West recorded the worst air quality, with an AQI of 255.

For context, the CPCB classifies AQI levels as follows:

• 0–50: Good
• 51–100: Satisfactory
• 101–200: Moderate
• 201–300: Poor
• 301–400: Very Poor
• 401–500: Severe

Singh’s concerns come amid growing awareness about the health hazards of air pollution in Indian cities, where rapid urbanization, construction, vehicular emissions, and industrial activity contribute to rising particulate matter levels. Experts warn that prolonged exposure to high AQI can aggravate respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

Several environmentalists have welcomed Singh’s call for stringent measures, noting that Mumbai lacks consistent enforcement of dust control and industrial emission standards. They highlight that temporary measures alone may be insufficient and advocate for a holistic pollution management strategy, including tighter monitoring of vehicles, stricter construction site regulations, and incentives for adopting cleaner energy and transport solutions.

The situation underscores the broader challenge faced by metropolitan cities across India, where pollution levels often spike during peak traffic hours and industrial activity. Public awareness campaigns, early-warning systems, and citizen participation in reporting violations are seen as complementary steps in addressing the crisis.

Singh’s intervention adds a prominent voice from the business and media sector to the debate, emphasizing the intersection of environmental health, public safety, and corporate responsibility. Her suggestion for adopting measures similar to China and Korea reflects global best practices, where governments have enforced strict emissions standards, closed high-polluting factories temporarily, and regulated construction activities to reduce ambient air pollution.

As Mumbai’s AQI continues to fluctuate, city authorities have urged citizens to limit outdoor activities during peak pollution hours and to monitor real-time AQI updates via the CPCB’s mobile app. The growing concern over air quality highlights the urgent need for long-term strategies, combining regulatory enforcement, technological interventions, and public awareness campaigns.

Vineeta Singh concluded her message with a call to action, stressing that proactive measures must be taken now, rather than waiting for catastrophic health consequences to unfold. Her appeal reflects a growing consensus among experts and citizens alike: air pollution is a silent crisis that demands immediate, sustained action to protect public health and ensure a livable city for future generations.

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