Karnataka approves clean air action plan to combat rising pollution

Bengaluru: Amid escalating pollution levels in Bengaluru and other cities, a high-level committee has approved the State Action Plan for Clean Air in Karnataka, aimed at reducing emissions across various sectors.

The plan, part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), consolidates existing measures to decrease PM10 emissions and emphasises strict enforcement of regulations in industries, transportation, agriculture, construction and demolition, and waste management.

In Bengaluru, a city notorious for its heavy traffic and industrial activity, the plan underscores the necessity to control roadside dust and soil particles in addition to vehicular exhaust.

To mitigate the burning of wood and solid fuels like coal, it advocates for increased use of LPG and retrofitting older power generators to meet emission standards established in 2022.

The plan also stresses the need for regulations to minimise construction and demolition (C&D) dust through measures such as vertical coverage of construction sites and establishing C&D processing plants.

In addition, it aims to raise awareness about using re-processed bricks from these facilities.

In an effort to extend these regulations to smaller cities, the plan includes air quality monitoring for 17 categories of "highly polluting" industries.

As of late 2024, Karnataka has 28,716 industries, including 2,652 classified as red and 8,710 as orange category.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is pushing major industries to install continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations and publish their environmental data online.

The plan outlines various rules for managing electronic waste, batteries, and other refuse with a strong emphasis on recycling. It advocates for environmentally sound technologies such as composting, bio-methanation, refuse-derived fuel (RDF), and waste-to-energy initiatives for effective solid waste management.

"The long-term success of the NCAP is closely linked to the commitment shown during its initial phases, particularly regarding governance and financial backing," the document states. It aims to integrate climate consciousness into the core of Karnataka's development strategy.

Sources within the KSPCB noted that this document aims to unify scattered regulations across different sectors into a comprehensive framework for easier enforcement.

BBMP directed to utilise Rs 280-crore funds

The chief secretary recently reviewed the action plan and instructed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to utilise funds allocated under the 15th Finance Commission.

Officials reported that out of Rs 535 crore allocated, Rs 254.69 crore has been spent, while Rs 280.31 crore remains in the tendering phase.

The chief secretary urged the BBMP chief commissioner to expedite this process and submit utilisation certificates promptly.