What strike? Pollution still high

The three-day strike by state transport corporation (STC) employees didn’t result in any improvement in the air quality in the city. As many as 23,000 buses across the state remained off the roads from July 25 to July 27 evening. Among them were close to 7,000 BMTC buses and at least 2,000 state buses plying in Bengaluru.

According to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), during the strike, the PM10 values had increased in three locations -- KHB Industrial Area in Yelahanka by 18.5%, at city railway station by 30% and at Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (Nimhans) by 40%. The Particulate Matter-10 (PM10) values had decreased in five locations -- Amco Batteries on Mysuru Road by 10%, Yeshwantpur police station by 35%, Central Silk Board by 40%, KSPCB office in SG Halli by 3.5% and Victoria Hospital by 40%, compared to normal days.

The noise level saw an increase in silent, residential, commercial and industrial zones. The 24-hour noise monitoring centres at RVCE on Mysuru Road and Nimhans saw an increase of 0.2 to one percent during the day  and from 6.7% to 14.7% at night, compared to normal days. These two areas are listed as silent zones. The three continuous monitoring stations at SG Halli, BTM Layout and Domlur (which are residential areas) recorded an increase in noise levels from 0.1% to 8.4% during the day and from 0.3% to 8.9% during the night compared to normal days.

At Yeshwantpur police station, pollution levels had reduced by 0.4%. At Whitefield Industrial Area, the noise level had increased by 0.1% during the day and by 3.6% at night  compared to normal days. At Peenya industrial Area, the noise level had decreased by 0.2% during the day and by 6.5% during the night.