Davangere was once the hub of industries in Karnataka, but its bad roads have now brought it the ignominy of being a highly polluted city in the State.

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Pollution Database released recently, Davangere has crossed permissible limits of air pollution, and the increasing air pollution will have a severe impact on the health of people in the years to come if precautionary measures are not taken.

The Pollution Control Board has already written to the district administration and the city municipal corporation urging them to take up immediate repair of roads and footpaths.

The WHO report stated that particulate matter, PM10 is 75 micrograms in Davangere, while it is 118 in Bengaluru and 36 micrograms in Hassan district. The report also indicates that the pollution in Hassan district is below permissible levels, in contrast to the alarming levels in Davangere. According to sources in the Davangere District Pollution Control Board, the major reason for the increasing dust and air pollution is improper roads, especially in commercial areas, and improper footpaths. The permissible limit of the pollution control board at commercial areas is 100 microgram and the equipment installed at the Gandhi Circle records a minimum of 250 to 260 micrograms every day, said the source.

However, in residential areas, the pollution is well within the limits, as per the equipment installed at residential areas showing it’s around 80 micrograms.

Environmentalist Gopal Goudar attributes the increasing air pollution to cutting of trees in the name of development and the authorities concerned have started chopping of trees and constructing cement concrete roads. After cutting the trees, no steps have been taken to plant new ones to control pollution. The number of vehicles in the district has also increased considerably, another factor for the pollution.