Curbs or no curbs, city’s air quality dips

Nischith N. | NT

Bengaluru: If anyone thought that air quality in Bengaluru has improved because of Covid induced curbs like the night curfew, they are sorely mistaken. An air quality analysis by Greenpeace India of 10 south Indian cities shows that the average pollution levels in Bengaluru far exceed the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Bengaluru has an annual PM 2.5 level which far exceeds the WHO norm of 5 μg/m3, by 6 to 7 times.

The IT city has 10 pollution monitoring stations set up by the state and central pollution control boards.” At all these locations, the values are higher than revised WHO standards. “ says a statement.

It was found that despite pandemic-induced lockdowns and subsequent reduction in economic activity, the annual average values of PM2.5 and PM10 exceeded WHO revised standards many fold. Commenting on the analysis, Avinash Chanchal, Campaign Manager, Greenpeace India says, “lockdown is not a solution for air pollution. Relatively lesser economic activity and vehicles are also putting us in a dangerous position. We have to prioritize on an immediate shift to clean energy and clean transport to stop more damage.”

Chanchal continued, “Making our urban transport networks accessible and sustainable can play a major role in combating India’s urban air pollution crisis. The focus is still on private vehicles. More use of public transport will help make our cities sustainable.”

Terming the citizenry using public transport as ‘heroes’, Chanchal added, “The pollution control boards must realize that no level of air pollution is safe and longterm exposure can severely impact human health. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) must revise the current national ambient air quality standards for all pollutants based on WHO’s proposed targets and gradually achieve the revised standards.”

The primary contributors to worsening air quality are fossil fuel powered infrastructure development, industries, transport, waste burning and construction activity. Chronic exposure to air pollution increases the likelihood of asthma, low birth weight, depression, schizophrenia, diabetes, stroke, lung cancer and can cause premature deaths.