Increase in Vehicle Population Pushing up Air Pollution Level in Vijayawada

The New Indian Express , Sunday, October 26, 2014
Correspondent : Sai Durga Gona
VIJAYAWADA: Air pollution in the city is growing at an alarming rate due to increase in the number of vehicles. As per official records, the number of vehicles has increased by 15 per cent in the last year.

“The increase in the usage of vehicles has led to consistent rise in air pollution levels, affecting environment in the city. The dangerous gases emitted by vehicles like Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Benzyne and Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) are the prime cause of pollution,” said T Vidya Sagar, senior environmental scientist at the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB).

According to APPCB records, the air quality monitoring system installed on the Bandar Road showed that the PM 10 (particulate matter), which is the unit of measuring air pollution, was recorded at 75 mg per cum in the city as against the standard of 60 mg per cum. Similarly, the PM 2.5 value should not exceed 30 micro gram per cum, but it was recorded as 51 mg per cum.

“The increasing concentration of the matter in the air has a significant impact on environment and local biodiversity. The exceeding limits of these particulates in the air may lead to severe health hazards and also affect the environment,” Vidya Sagar told Express.

Experts opine that there is a need to create awareness among the public on the usage of diesel vehicles, as diesel emits more hazardous gases than petrol. “The usage of petrol vehicles will reduce pollution to some extent. Also, the citizens need to be encouraged to opt the public transport system as it lessens fuel consumption by the private vehicles,” he added.

Besides this, the Transport Department is insisting on pollution check for vehicles at the existing 25 mobile pollution testing centres in the city. The department has made it mandatory for all vehicles to obtain emission check certificates issued every six months.

“We are trying to reduce the pollution level caused by the vehicles in the city by imposing fines when the violators are caught during surprise checks,” said deputy transport commissioner Ch Shivalingaiah.

 
SOURCE : http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/Increase-in-Vehicle-Population-Pushing-up-Air-Pollution-Level-in-Vijayawada/2014/10/26/article2493929.ece
 


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