India, Feb. 4 -- Mumbai's historic Shivaji Park will turn into a grassy maidan, to contain the massive dust pollution around this large open space in the heart of the island city. At least, that's the plan, according to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

On Monday, the board said would undertake an elaborate experiment to cultivate grass to hold the soil in place, preventing it from being swept up by the wind, causing respiratory and other problems for citizens in the area.

As a first step, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will identify a species of grass compatible with the environment but one whose roots are long enough to hold the soil in place. In the meantime, the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-...