MYSORE: Bangalore Rural district has higher emission levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) — about 0.34 million tonnes — followed by Mysore district with 0.27 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. Chamarajanagar district has the lowest emissions of about 0.05 million tonnes. Two-wheelers are the major emitters of CO2 in Mysore and Mandya districts.
These figures on air pollution were arrived at during a study on Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in seven districts Mysore, Mandya, Bangalore Rural, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Chickballapur and Ramanagaram in the State.
The preparation of inventory for GHG emissions for the State has been taken up by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in association with Bangalore-based energy and environment consultancy firm, Enzen Global Solutions Private Limited.
The first series on GHG inventory for Bangalore city road transport sector was released in January 2008. KSPCB is now set to release its second series (Series 2) of GHG emissions’ inventory for the seven districts.
The study has included emission inventory of major GHG — Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) for 2007-2008. Major health damaging pollutants such as Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrocarbons (HC), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) have been estimated to depict the air quality status of these districts.
Emission inventory of the major greenhouse gases, CO2, CH4 and N2O, were done adopting standard methodology recommended by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2006).
Major health damaging pollutants such as CO, NOx, PM and HC were also inventoried to know the air quality status of these districts.
According to the study, emission estimates were based on the available secondary information, activity data (fuel consumption data) and suitable emission factors.
The study adopted two different approaches for arriving at the CO2 emissions — Top Down Approach and Bottom Up Approach. Emission inventory for other major non-CO2 emissions was done using default emission factors provided by IPCC.
The emission estimation from different vehicle categories has been done considering the number of vehicles and annual distance travelled and emission factors for different categories of vehicles.
The study noticed that rapid industrial growth, new avenues for income generation, tourism and other various factors have resulted in substantial increase in the number of vehicles in these districts.
“A majority of the districts are recording an increase in the number of four-wheelers which clearly states that people are shifting to private modes of transportation. Thus, it is suggested that the existing public transport system be strengthened,” said KSPCB Chairman H.C. Sharathchandra.
Fuel consumption data for the districts includes fuel supplied.
“Based on experts’ opinion, we have apportioned fuel distribution to the transport sector,” according to Dr. Sharathchandra.
In Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Ramanagaram, it has been observed that the emission levels are more under the three-wheeler category rather than two-wheelers. “Shifting auto-rickshaws to LPG will help in reducing the emission levels,” the study has suggested.
There is a possibility that two-wheelers registered in Bangalore are plying on the roads of adjoining districts — Bangalore Rural, Ramanagaram, and Chickballapur.
Mysore and Kodagu are tourist centres; hence the emission levels estimated there may be on the lower side as only vehicles registered in these districts are considered in the inventory.
“To considering the number of ‘floating vehicles’, it requires a detailed survey and analysis,” the study has said.
Pollutants
Six common air pollutants — nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter and lead — are considered dangerous to human health and welfare. Of these six, four are directly produced by burning either fossil fuels (coal, oil or natural gas) or wood.
The study has made an attempt to quantify the health-damaging pollutants released by burning fuel oils in the districts for 2007-08 and the results are: Mysore (12,386 tonnes of CO, 4,221 tonnes of HC, 7,277 tonnes of NOx and 808 tonnes of PM); Mandya (4,244 tonnes of CO, 1,209 tonnes of HC, 3,405 tonnes of NOx and 376 tonnes of PM); Bangalore Rural (6,924 tonnes of CO, 2,091 tonnes of HC, 4,632 tonnes of NOx and 496 tonnes of PM), Chamarajnagar (6,786 tonnes of CO, 1,659 tonnes of HC, 6,387 tonnes of NOx and 766 tonnes of PM); Kodagu (3,503 tonnes of CO, 696 tonnes of HC, 3,705 tonnes of NOx and 403 tonnes of PM); Chickballapur (2,737 tonnes of CO, 631 tonnes of HC, 2,704 tonnes of NOx and 298 tonnes of PM) and Ramanagaram (442 tonnes of CO, 98 tonnes of NC, 438 tonnes of NOx and 48 tonnes of PM).
Dr. Sharathchandra said the GHG inventory for the other districts is being prepared.
