Drop in pollution levels during investors meet, says KSPCB report

Air pollution levels dropped considerably in areas where private buses were banned during the recent ‘Invest Karnataka-2016’ summit, according to a report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

The KSPCB ambient air quality report states that the level of respiarable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) had come down at six areas across the City were private buses were not allowed to enter. Air pollution levels had come down by 26 per cent in SG Halli, 31.2 per cent in Mysuru Road, 9.6 per cent in Anand Rao Circle, 42 per cent in Hebbal, 15 per cent in Victoria Hospital and 4.3 per cent in and around ITPL and Whitefield. 

On the other hand, there was a rise in air pollution levels in areas where private buses were allowed to ply or diverted.

In Yeshwanthpur there was a rise in pollution levels by 23 per cent, International promotion centre, Whitefield Industrial Area reported a 33.9 per cent rise, while, City railway station saw a 9.5 per cent rise and IGC Centre Institute Nimhans saw a 31 per cent rise. This was because private buses were diverted to these areas and their surroundings, said a senior KSPCB official.

The standard permissible levels of RSPM is 100 ug/M3.

The Board monitored the ambient air quality for particulate matter, sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels at 12 locations using ten manual stations and two continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations. Before ‘Invest Karnataka-2016’, the measured  RSPM values exceeded the national limit (100.0 ug/M3) at 10 locations in the range of  15 to 153 per cent and at two locations within the national limit. During ‘Invest Karnataka-2016’, RSPM values had exceeded the national limit (100.0 ug/M3) at 9 locations in the range of 10 to 142 per cent and at 3 locations within the national limit.

The levels of SO2 and NO2 values were within permissible limits (80.0 ug/M3 and 80.0 ug/M3 respectively) before and during ‘Invest Karnataka-2016’.
DH News Service

Change in noise  levels too
The KSPCB report also reported a fall in noise levels during the ‘Invest Karnataka-2016’ summit.
Out of the ten locations, in three locations - Nimhans, Domlur and Marathhalli - noise levels came down from 0.5 to 3.5 per cent and in the remaining seven locations, noise levels increased by 0.5 to 6  per cent.

The noise level from 10 pm to 6 am increased at Nimhans, BTM Layout, Parisara Bhavan on Church Street, Yeshwantpur and Marathhalli. During the day time (from 6 am to 10 pm), there was a rise in noise levels at RVCE Mysuru Road, Parisara Bhavan on Church Street, Yeshwantpur and Peenya Industrial area.