MUMBAI: Over 31000 individuals were convicted by Indian courts in 2018 for committing environment related offences , according to latest data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Ninety nine percent of the convicts were male, the data showed. Among the states, Tamil Nadu had the highest

number of convicted individuals (around 13700). By comparison, Maharashtra had far lesser numbers-- around 500 individuals were convicted.

Air and water pollution is a major concern in most parts of the country. Discharge of wastewater, for instance, has led to growth of weed and degraded green spaces around Powai lake in Mumbai. Yet, the state of Maharashtra recorded just one case of air and water pollution in 2018. Merely, four individuals were convicted for related offences across India.

The project report for Maharashtra state government's pet project, Coastal Road, states that motor vehicles are presently the biggest sources of atmospheric pollution in Mumbai. On an average, 96000 vehicles are added every year to the already congested road system.

"There is a lack of sustainable mobility planning in Mumbai. Infrastructure projects don't seem to acknowledge the climate crisis or rising water levels," said urban planner Hussain Indorewala, while speaking at a climate change workshop at the Mumbai Press Club.

"Pollution caused by accidents, wars, ship dismantling and repair is practically ignored and there is no measurement of the long term damage done to the environment," said Dr Shyam Asolekar, Professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Bombay), at the climate change workshop.

Nearly 2000 people were convicted for offences relating to Forests and Forest Conservation across the country. Around 6700 individuals were convicted in noise pollution related cases. The highest number of convictions (over 22000 individuals) were made under the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act.

