BANGALORE: The stretch of Mysore Road near AMCO Batteries factory is the most polluted area in the city, says a survey conducted recently by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
According to the survey conducted in June, the level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), which causes many health ailments and allergies, is more than the national permissible limit at 12 of the city’s 15 testing centres. The permissible limit is 60 micrograms per cubic metre.
The RSPM level at Mysore Road is a staggering 250 micrograms — this translates to 316 per cent above the permissible limit. The Central Silk Board junction has a RSPM level of 196 (226 per cent above the permissible limit), while that in Peenya is 165 (175 per cent). Victoria Road, Whitefield, Yeshwantpur and KHB Industrial areas follow in the list.
The Pollution Control Board has testing centres at Victoria Hospital and NIMHANS junctions. While the former has an RSPM level of 141 micrograms (135 per cent above the permissible limit), the latter has 97 (62 per cent). However, the levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are within permissible limits in most areas. The level of nitrogen dioxide at both NIMHANS and Victoria Hospital junctions stands at 29 micrograms, just under the permissible limit of 30.
According to KSPCB officials, the transport sector accounts for around 45 per cent of the RSPM levels.
When asked about the measures to keep pollution under check, KSPCB officials threw up their hands in exasperation. “There are around 58 lakh vehicles in the city. It is a Herculean task to monitor all of them. Ultimately, it boils down to the people’s attitude. Nobody is aware that they are polluting the environment on such a large scale. Public transport must be used widely,” said KSPCB scientific officer B Nagappa.
He added that the board also lacks the manpower to monitor all the vehicles and roads.
How Are We Affected?
Dr K Satish, Head of the Department of Pulmonology, Vikram Hospital, said the cases of respiratory infection, asthma and other ailments caused by pollution and dust, have been rising every year. “Existing lung problems also get worse. Long-term implications can sometimes translate into lung cancer too.”
Traffic expert M N Srihari said old BMTC buses must be phased out and lorries which are 15-20 years old must not be used. “There are several measures to control pollution, but executing them is the problem,” he said.
THE NOISE IS OFF THE CHARTS TOO
A surplus was recorded in four of the city’s five noise pollution testing centres. Between January and July, BTM Layout recorded an increase of 19.6 per cent in the day. At night, it was 37.7 per cent. The noise level at Marathahalli in the day was within the permissible limit, while at night, there was an increase of nine per cent. It was a similar story in S G Halli and Parisara Bhavan. The noise pollution was under the permissible limit only in Peenya Industrial Area.
