What’s in the Bangalore air?

What’s in the Bangalore air?
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Traffic jams, long queues at signals, vehicles emitting smoke. Very familiar sights and smells for any Bangalorean taking to the roads. But this smoke could land you in hospital.

Oxygen content in the atmosphere is dwindling day by day and sulphur content is on the rise. Needless to say, pollution levels are increasing because of the rising vehicle numbers.

Using vehicles indiscriminately has been causing vehicle crowding and has been adding to pollution in the atmosphere. Taking a drive when stressed out has become fashionable.

People who can afford private transport are not interested in taking mass transport to cover distances. A small city (compared to other metros in India) like Bangalore is now trying to accommodate around 22 lakh vehicles on its groaning roads.

“It’s simple. The more the vehicles, more the pollution. Private vehicle use has to be cut down and mass transport encouraged,” says researcher Arun Prasad, adding that the increasing pollution level will choke the city as the oxygen level of the city is on constant decrease due to disappearing greenery.

“Oxygen is on a low ebb. A study says Bangalore requires 60,000 tonnes of oxygen but that level is very low at the moment. Bangalore does not have a sea-shore where oxygen flow is high.

“Maintaining greenery within the city is a must and sadly this is not happening. Authorities are thinking of new flyovers and new express roads, but that is not the solution for the pollution control,” he said.

The Pollution Control Board too is worried about increasing vehicle numbers in the city.

“To bring down air pollution in Bangalore, the Supreme Court has formed a committee and the new norms and rules are under implementation. Bangalore has 0.5 per cent of sulphur content, which is marginally lower than the level in other cities.

“But, the increasing vehicles have become obstacles in keeping pollution under control,” Syed Khaja Mohiddin, Regional Officer, Pollution Control Board, said.

“Bangaloreans have a passion for new vehicles in the market. Most vehicle manufacturers choose Bangalore to launch their products. Mass transportation is the only solution for the present situation.”