The 'air' we breathe!DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: There is nothing new in saying that the air we breathe is polluted.
From menacing to alarming, air pollution levels are fast zooming up in urban areas in Andhra Pradesh, threatening to adversely affect the people indiscriminately.
Vehicles of all kinds are the single largest source contributing to 50 per cent of the total air pollution in urban areas while the dust on roads is the next biggest culprit with 25 per cent contribution. Burning of refuge and vegetation is resulting in 15 per cent of air pollution while the industry is adding up to the balance 10 per cent.
Take the case of the state capital Hyderabad. The number of vehicles in twin cities has shot up from 10.91 lakh in 2001 to 18.47 lakh by the end of 2007 (in twin cities alone). Add another 7.94 lakh vehicles registered in surrounding Ranga Reddy district, the total number of vehicles adds up to 26,42, 337 i n Greater Hyderabad region. If the vehicles registered in other districts (used by migrants) and plying on city roads is also taken into account, the number crosses 27 lakh. Between 2006 and 2007, the total number of vehicles in Hyderabad increased by 1,66,129 with cars\jeeps rising by 33,986 and two-wheelers by 1,16,511. Now, as many as 2,61,850 cars and 13,81,861 two-wheelers in all are being used in the twin cities.
"On an average, 600 new vehicles are adding up to these numbers every day," a senior transport official pointed out. This has been causing the air pollution levels to shoot up day by day -- way above the standard levels. For example, the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) should be 200 milligram per cubic metre but the average value being recorded in the twin cities is 280 milligram per cubic metre with heavy traffic junctions like Panjagutta, Charminar, Paradise Circle and Abids recording a staggering 300-400 on any given day.
RTC city buses, the Setwin services, cabs, Aero Express buses being run by the Hyderabad International Airport and autos are found to be causing the most pollution. Fuel adulteration has become rampant these days with the hike in prices of petrol and diesel and also due to shortage of diesel. Thus cabs and autos could be found emitting unbearable smoke. But neither the traffic police, the transport authorities nor the civil supplies department seem to be taking any action to check this.
Port city Visakhapatnam used to be relatively free from air pollution, particularly that caused by vehicles, but of late it too has been "catching up," thanks to the growing number of vehicles.
"But the scene in Vizag has not still been beyond the critical limit," a senior official of the AP Pollution Control Board said. While the TSPM levels in Vizag are just below the standard level, they seem to be rising in certain pockets like Police Barracks, Mindi, Gnanapuram and Seetammadhara.
A study conducted by the AP Pollution Control Board in the state revealed that the air pollution levels (TSPM) have been steadily rising in major towns like Vijayawada, Kurnool, Anantapur, Nalgonda, Kadapa, Vizianagaram and Warangal. The levels, however, fell below the standard mark in Tirupati, Khammam and Nizamabad after showing an upward trend for a few years.
"The level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), which is indeed more dangerous than the TSPM, has been steadily increasing, causing concern to one and all. Just a few towns like Tirupati, Khammam, Kadapa and Warangal have low RSPM levels while all other cities are clearly in the danger zone," the APPCB official pointed out.
From menacing to alarming, air pollution levels are fast zooming up in urban areas in Andhra Pradesh, threatening to adversely affect the people indiscriminately.
Vehicles of all kinds are the single largest source contributing to 50 per cent of the total air pollution in urban areas while the dust on roads is the next biggest culprit with 25 per cent contribution. Burning of refuge and vegetation is resulting in 15 per cent of air pollution while the industry is adding up to the balance 10 per cent.
Take the case of the state capital Hyderabad. The number of vehicles in twin cities has shot up from 10.91 lakh in 2001 to 18.47 lakh by the end of 2007 (in twin cities alone). Add another 7.94 lakh vehicles registered in surrounding Ranga Reddy district, the total number of vehicles adds up to 26,42, 337 i n Greater Hyderabad region. If the vehicles registered in other districts (used by migrants) and plying on city roads is also taken into account, the number crosses 27 lakh. Between 2006 and 2007, the total number of vehicles in Hyderabad increased by 1,66,129 with cars\jeeps rising by 33,986 and two-wheelers by 1,16,511. Now, as many as 2,61,850 cars and 13,81,861 two-wheelers in all are being used in the twin cities.
"On an average, 600 new vehicles are adding up to these numbers every day," a senior transport official pointed out. This has been causing the air pollution levels to shoot up day by day -- way above the standard levels. For example, the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) should be 200 milligram per cubic metre but the average value being recorded in the twin cities is 280 milligram per cubic metre with heavy traffic junctions like Panjagutta, Charminar, Paradise Circle and Abids recording a staggering 300-400 on any given day.
RTC city buses, the Setwin services, cabs, Aero Express buses being run by the Hyderabad International Airport and autos are found to be causing the most pollution. Fuel adulteration has become rampant these days with the hike in prices of petrol and diesel and also due to shortage of diesel. Thus cabs and autos could be found emitting unbearable smoke. But neither the traffic police, the transport authorities nor the civil supplies department seem to be taking any action to check this.
Port city Visakhapatnam used to be relatively free from air pollution, particularly that caused by vehicles, but of late it too has been "catching up," thanks to the growing number of vehicles.
"But the scene in Vizag has not still been beyond the critical limit," a senior official of the AP Pollution Control Board said. While the TSPM levels in Vizag are just below the standard level, they seem to be rising in certain pockets like Police Barracks, Mindi, Gnanapuram and Seetammadhara.
A study conducted by the AP Pollution Control Board in the state revealed that the air pollution levels (TSPM) have been steadily rising in major towns like Vijayawada, Kurnool, Anantapur, Nalgonda, Kadapa, Vizianagaram and Warangal. The levels, however, fell below the standard mark in Tirupati, Khammam and Nizamabad after showing an upward trend for a few years.
"The level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), which is indeed more dangerous than the TSPM, has been steadily increasing, causing concern to one and all. Just a few towns like Tirupati, Khammam, Kadapa and Warangal have low RSPM levels while all other cities are clearly in the danger zone," the APPCB official pointed out.
The state government prepared an action plan, on the directions of the Supreme Court, for "lowering air pollution" in Hyderabad and constituted the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority to monitor its implementation.
A high-level co-ordination committee comprising the AP Pollution Control Board member-secretary, additional commissioner of police (traffic), civil supplies commissioner, transport commissioner and co-ordinator of oil companies meets "as and when required" to monitor the pollution control action plan. The emphasis of the action plan is to promote public transport and curtail the number of private vehicles which is not only causing pollution but also chaos on roads.
"Only 40 per cent of people in the state capital now use public transport. We want to increase it to 60-70 per cent so that use of private vehicles can be restricted and pollution curbed," APPCB member-secretary Rajeshwar Tiwari said. Besides, the APSRTC has been asked to increase more number of city buses that meet the Euro-III environment norms.
Though the RTC has plans to introduce buses that run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the delay in completion of CNG pipeline work from Vijayawada is proving a major impediment. Official sources said the RTC as well as the Bhagyanagar Gas Limited, supplier of CNG, are working on pricing, the quantum of fuel that would be made available and related issues. "We hope to get CNG at least before the end of this year so that we can press the eco-friendly buses into operation. We already have such buses running in Vijayawada," an executive director of RTC said.
If indeed the CNG buses hit Hyderabad roads, they will certainly bring at least some relief to the harassed road-users.
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