BANGALORE: Whether the Bharat Bandh called on Monday to protest against the fuel price hike will prove to be a success is yet to be seen. But, the bandh did come as a blessing in disguise to environmentalists — by reducing pollution!
Air pollution plummeted to 23 percent, while noise pollution dropped to 63 percent in the city when compared to an average day. M S Gowdar, member secretary of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), said that a lesser amount of nitrogen oxides was released into the atmosphere as there were only a few diesel-run vehicles operating during the bandh. Elaborating further he said that generally the concentration of oxides was around 148 mg/m3 but it was only 34.02 mg/m3 on Monday.
The pollution chart also noted a drop in the levels of sulphur oxide (by 22%), carbon monoxide (by 22%) and respirable suspended particulate matter (by 35%).
Nagappa, officer-in-charge of air quality monitoring, said the City bus stand, which records the highest noise level of 90 decibel, recorded 57.4 decibel during the bandh, and the noise level in Malleswaram was recorded at 60.4 decibel as against the usual 85.5 decibel.