Water, air, noise pollutions continue to dog City

Water, air, noise pollutions continue to dog City

Vijay Times

Bangalore: While the IT City continues to woo foreign investors across the globe, problems of pollution continue to dog the city.

The six city muncipal corporations (CMCs) and a town muncipal corporation (TMCs) around the city which will soon be part of greater Bangalore is choked with water pollution, while the central part of the city is gripped with air and noise pollution.

Nearly 20-22 per cent of the Citys children and about 10 per cent of the adults are victims of various respiratory diseases which is increasing at a pace of five per cent every year, a problem which should be addressed immediately before it is too late.

Air pollution

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board figures show that the Citys ambient air quality level is within permissible limits, but medical fraternity and traffic experts warn about increasing respiratory diseases among the people.

A KSPCB survey conducted at Graphite India Junction (White Field Road), Anand Rao Circle, Victoria Hospital Junction and Trinity Circle has shown reduction in air pollution.

Anand Rao circle which was once the most polluted point in India has shown reduction in suspended [particultate matter (SPM) and respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) which has come down below 200 micrograms, while the Victoria hospital junction has taken the top slot with 139 mg of SPM and 66 mg of RSPM respectively.

KSPCB attributes this to better traffic management, supply of unleaded fuel, construction of flyovers and underpasses, regular asphalting of roads and conversion of autorickshaws to LPG.

However, a study by Traffic Engineers Safety Trainers (TEST) and medical findings have contradicted this pointing out that there is increase in respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis.

"There has been continuous increase of cases by at least 5-6 per cent in asthmatic and other respiratory diseases in the city, where vehicular pollution is a major reason, children are the worst affected, but unfortunately the hospitals in the city do not follow a procedure to report the cause of death nor they maintain statistics," says Dr B R Ramesh, a specialist in asthma, allergy and respiratory disease at Mahaveer Jain hospital.

M N Srihari, Chairman, TEST who conducted a study of air and noise pollution a couple of months ago in the City says that nearly 22 per cent children in the city are affected with air pollution, while it is the traffic police who suffer worst among adults due to continous exposure to vehicular pollution.

According to TEST survey, Victoria Hospital Junction, Silk Board Junction, SJP Road and S M Junction near Peenya are the hotspots in the city. Prevention Approach health care centres immediately when you have a respiratory problem.

Excercise regularly to maintain good health.

Water pollution

Srinivasa Reddy, resident of Attur, in Yelahanka, City Muncipal Corporation spends nearly Rs 1000 a month for bottled drinking water. He is one among those residents who have stopped drinking tap water even after boiling, fearing water contamination.

With the City growing rapidly, pressure on ground water is increasing, which has led to contamination of water in six CMCs and a TMC, while the government agencies like KSPCB indulge in a blame game.

"The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has taken the responsibility of treating the waste water in these places, but unfortunately it is not happening and has led to the water pollution in several CMCs," alleged a top official at KSPCB.

The treatment plants at K o r a m a n g a l a Challaghatta Valley and Vrishabavathi valley are overfed.

"The water at Vrishabavathi valley is partially treated and let into down stream, which joins the Byramangala tank near Bidadi. Here it mixes with sewage water which bypasses the plant before joining the tank, which is in fact sewage waste where Bangalores wastes accumulate," said the official.

The City on the whole gets 900 million litres of water per day (MLDs), of which nearly half of it goes waste and untreated and culminates at tanks in these CMCs.

"These CMCs are growing beyond their limits and something should be done instantly to prevent water pollution in these areas," said B Ramaiah, member secretary, KSPCB.

Several incidents of gastroentrities have been reported due to contaminated water in CMCs like KR Puram, Byterayanapura, Yelahanka.

Noise pollution

Victoria Hospital junction tops in noise pollution in the City with the noise level recording between 82-86 decibels, while the permissible limits is 50 decibels (due to hospital). TEST which analysed the noise pollution says that the places like K R Circle, S M Junction Peenya, Silk Board junction are the hot spots with noise level exceeding over 100 decibels.

According to the experts noise pollution will lead to permanent deafness if exposed to the noise exceeding the permissible limits prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board. (Permissible limits is 55- 65 decibels for residential areas and sensitive places like schools and hospitals, while it is 90 decibels for industrial areas). The major noise polluters in the City are autorickshaws whose noise level crosses 85-90 decibels, followed by BMTC buses between 80-85 decibels while the permissible limit is 64 decibels.

Solution: More trees

Increase tree cover by planting more trees in your layouts as trees absorb most of the noise. Police can advise to switch off the vehicles at junctions where timer shows above 90 seconds restricting the emission of smoke in old vehicles. Wear rubber beadings whenever necessary when you feel noise level is too much.

Nearly 20-22 per cent of the City’s children and about 10 per cent of the adults are victims of various respiratory diseases which is increasing at a pace of five per cent every year