B’lore, metros must shift to LNG: WHO

B’lore, metros must shift to LNG: WHO
Deccan Herald

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said it was high time Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata followed New Delhi’s way and switched to LNG (liquefied natural gas) as rising pollution levels posed a serious health hazard to these cities.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said it was high time Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata followed New Delhi’s way and switched to LNG (liquefied natural gas) as rising pollution levels posed a serious health hazard to these cities.

Commending Delhi’s move to make LNG a mandatory fuel for three-wheelers and buses, senior WHO officials said other metros should soon follow suit, lest more people fall prey to breathing problems, lung cancer and heart ailments. Officials at the WHO’s Public Health and Environment division observed that the introduction of LNG in the capital three years ago had brought about considerable change in the air quality there. Other cities too must shift to cleaner fuels.

WHO’s estimates suggest an enormous rise in the level of air pollutants in Indian cities, due to increasing volume of traffic and a lack of proper regulations. New guidelines will reduce the level of pollutants, especially PM10 (particulate matter) which could reduce deaths in polluted cities by 15 per cent.


PM10, which affects people more than any other pollutant, is a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles, both organic and inorganic, suspended in the air. Energy-efficient technologies have made it possible to reduce the pollutant.

“By reducing particulate matter pollution from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre as set in the new guidelines, we can reduce deaths by around 15 per cent,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director of Public Health and Environment.

Weak environmental regulations and ineffective enforcement mechanisms has led to overall rise in level of pollutants in the air in Indian cities. These pollutants are contributing to an increase in respiratory infections, heart diseases and lung cancer. Dr Neira said federal and state governments must ensure a drastic reduction in the particulate matter to improve quality of air.