Silk Board, Yelahanka among areas worst-hit by pollution in Bengaluru
By Express News Service | Published: 24th October 2017 04:20 AM |
Last Updated: 24th October 2017 10:30 AM | A+A A- |
Image used for representational purpose. (File photo | PTI)
BENGALURU: In 10 of the 13 localities where KSPCB monitored pollution levels, the PM10 levels were higher than the permissible limits as per the NAAQ standards.
About half the localities where the Pollution Control Board monitored air quality registered a rise in pollution levels as compared to the previous Deepavali. The area which saw the most increase in PM10 levels from Deepavali in 2016 is Jayanagar 1st Block (41%), while the most improved area is Byatarayanapura, which showed a reduction of 21.3 per cent in PM10 levels.
The area which recorded the highest readings - 159 µg/m3 - was Central Silk Board. However, even on non-Deepavali days, the junction recorded a high reading of 133 µ/m3. This was followed by Rail Wheel Factory, Yelahanka (151), ITPL (148) and Peenya Industrial Area (148). The least polluted locations among the 13 that were monitored during the period were Victoria Hospital (79), Banaswadi Police Station (83) and KR Circle (95).
One of the localities where pollution levels have come down considerably from the previous Deepavali is Whitefield (14 per cent). Prior to that, from 2015 to 2016, there had been a 60.7 per cent increase in the PM10 level. Pravir B, a volunteer for Whitefield Rising, said the number of people bursting firecrackers has considerably reduced due to multiple reasons.
“There have been sustained awareness campaigns on harmful effects of firecrackers for the past few years by KSPCB, NGOs and other groups. Schoolchildren are now also aware. Higher prices of firecrackers also might have deterred buyers,” Pravir added. Yeshwantpur showed an increase of 27 per cent in pollution levels.
G K Venkatesh, the councillor of Yeshwantpur ward, expressed surprise and said a possible reason for the increased pollution levels could be the location of the monitor - at Yeshwantpur Police Station.
“That junction has very heavy traffic, and during the festival, bottlenecks are created.The loudest areas in the city during the festival were Yeshwantpur and Whitefield Industrial Area. Even in areas classified as “sensitive” like RVCE College and NIMHANS, noise levels were much above the recommended values.
