As a regular morning jogger in Kharghar, air pollution is no longer something surprising — it has become routine. The haze, the dust, the occasional sharp smell in the air are all familiar now. What’s worrying is that mornings, once considered the cleanest and healthiest time to step out, no longer feel that way. Many of us return home with throat irritation, heaviness in the chest, or headaches. Yet we continue, mostly out of habit — even if the environment isn’t ideal. The question isn’t whether pollution exists here anymore. It clearly does.
The real concern is whether this is being acknowledged at all. Local air quality levels are being monitored regularly for sure, but what after that?
I don’t think residents have ever beein advised on safe timings or precautions by the local administration, For a place that once prided itself on open spaces and fresh mornings, this slow decline feels unsettling — and largely unaddressed.
Mohit Patel, resident of sector 21, Kharghar
