Air pollution: Bengaluru’s RSPM levels exceed the allowed limit by 12-283%

The Hindu , Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Correspondent : B. S. SATISH KUMAR
The levels are highest in Whitefield Industrial Zone and Mysore Road

Bengalurueans hold your breath. The presence of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), a serious form of air pollutants, has exceeded the national permissible limit in most parts of Bengaluru.

Of the 15 air monitoring stations in Bengaluru, the data recorded in 2014-15 has showed that the RSPM levels have exceeded the national permissible level by a range of 12 to 283 per cent in 13 stations. This was disclosed in the Legislative Assembly on Monday by Environment and Forest Minister Ramanath Rai while replying to the BJP member R. Ashok during the Question Hour.

As per the statistics provided by the minister, the Whitefield Industrial Zone accounts for the highest level of RSPM in the City. The RSPM levels here have exceeded the national permissible level by 283 per cent. As against the national permissible level of 60 ug/M3, the Whitefield Industrial Zone has 230 ug/M3.

The area near Amco Batteries on Mysore Road accounts for the second highest level of RSPM which overshoot the national permissible level by 248 per cent, the data notes.

This is followed by Central Silk Board area on Hosur Road whose RSPM levels are higher than the permissible level by 215 per cent and DTDC House area on Victoria Road which has overshot the permissible limit by 170 per cent.

The minister blamed the increasing traffic, condition of roads, huge construction activities and the process of setting up huge infrastructure facilities like Bengaluru Metro Train as responsible for the increase in RSPM levels.

Remedial measures

In a bid to prevent the increase in RSPM levels, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) had issued a 13-point direction to the Transport Department, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Police Department which included banning of autos in the Central Business District, Mr. Rai said.

The other remedial directions issued by the KSPCB include creation of dedicated bus-lanes, increasing City’s green cover by planting more saplings, banning of two-stroke two-wheelers in the City, keeping the roads in good shape by filling up pot-holes, eviction of encroachments on pavements and mechanised clearing of dust and silt on roads on a daily basis, he said.

In addition to this, the departments concerned had been told to prepare short and long-term action plans to reduce air pollution in the City, the minister said.

He also told the House that action would be initiated against erring industries which account for pollution through effluents.

 
SOURCE : http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/air-pollution-bengalurus-rspm-levels-exceed-the-allowed-limit-by-12283/article7444062.ece
 


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