Sobo-ites Launch Umbrella Body, Discuss Pollution With Govt Reps

Saturday saw the first meeting of a new SoBo coalition: the South Mumbai Residents Association, an umbrella body of residents' groups from Colaba to Worli to Sewri.

- Sabah Virani

MUMBAI: Helmed by Shiv Sena leaders Susieben Shah and Milind Deora, its first topic of discussion unsurprisingly was pollution, given minister Nitesh Rane's recent letter hinting at commercial activities on the Coastal Road's open spaces.

Shah, who is also the general secretary of the Malabar Hills Citizens Forum, held the meeting at Priyadarshini Park. "There is a great need for us SoBo residents to convene and solve the issues we face, bringing policy makers and politicians who have been voted into power for our cause," she said to the audience.

Deora, underscoring the seriousness of the pollution problem, said, "Air pollution is not only giving us respiratory issues but reducing our lifespans. The city's rising AQI is one of the most burning issues we face today. We are launching this association to have regular stakeholder consultations on South Mumbai's residents' problems."