The Air In Mumbai Homes Unfit For Breathing

• Toxic Air. A study conducted by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) found the carbon concentration in the air in Mumbai households to be far higher than the permissible limit, thus making it unfit for breathing. The study at Colaba, Dadar, Khar and Mahul, conducted between 2007 and 2008, detected carbon, dust, soot, smoke and liquid droplets in the air, which are responsible for respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. Taking into consideration the increase in vehicular traffic and construction projects, the researchers have said that the pollution levels could have increased by 20 per cent today. [Hindustan Times]

• Tariff Card Racket. After last week’s increase in the basic autorickshaw fare to Rs12, the Mumbai RTO has detected an increase in the number of auto drivers carrying fake tariff cards. The basic fare on an authentic card is Rs12, with a Rs7 increase for every additional kilometre. In a genuine card a 2.0 reading will show the fare as Rs26, but in a fake card it will be Rs27 and above. The best way to identify a fake, the RTO said, is that these won’t have signatures of the transport secretary. To report a fake tariff card, commuters can call the RTO on 1800-22-0110 and supply the rickshaw’s registration number. [The Times of India]

• Richest Man. With a personal wealth of £12.7 billion, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal was named as Britain’s richest man in UK’s annual Sunday Times Rich List. Mittal retained his crown despite losing almost a quarter of his wealth over the past year following a fall in the share value of his company ArcelorMittal. The top three places in the list were dominated by foreign-born magnates who earned their fortunes from resource-based industries such as minerals, steel and oil. [The Indian Express]