BANGALORE: Tired of the high pollution levels in Bangalore? Blame it on two-wheelers which contribute the biggest chunk of air pollution. They contribute 41% of particulate and 67% of nitrogen oxide levels in the air.
Vehicles are more threatening than other sources of pollution as they discharge emissions directly into the air. The most critical form of pollution in Bangalore is Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), according to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
Fifth-largest killer in India
The latest Global Burden of Disease ranked air pollution as the fifth-largest killer in India. The Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Karnataka, released in 2008 by the KSPCB along with Enzen Global, showed that emissions of both greenhouse gases and health-damaging local air pollutants have been increasing in Bangalore.
Consider this. Two-wheelers accounted for 56% of carbon monoxide emissions, while local air pollutants and heavy-duty diesel vehicles accounted for 60% of carbon dioxide emissions.
"Without intervention, the levels of particulate matter, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are expected to double over the next decade," according to an analysis of motor vehicle registrations by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment
"Half of India's urban population breathes air laced with particulate pollution that has exceeded the standards. As much as one third of our population is exposed to critical levels of particulate pollution. Smaller and more obscure cities are among the most polluted," said Anumita Roychoudhury, executive director-research and advocacy of CSE.
Numbers tell the story
An analysis of motor vehicle registrations by New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) found that over 1,200 vehicles are registered every day in Bangalore. Of these, 250 are cars and close to 900 are two-wheelers - together making up nearly 90% of the total registrations.
Over 42 lakh vehicles currently ply on roads. Though the city's vehicular population is half that of Delhi, Bangalore is badly gridlocked. With no parking space left, travel speed in the city has dropped to 15 kmph during peak hours. Traffic on most roads is 2.5 times higher than the capacity.