According to a report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, there was an overall reduction of pollutants by 16.5%, when compared to normal days.
If you thought that last Saturday’s bandh had a negative impact on citizens, here’s a breather. In fact, the ambient air quality had improved in the city on the day of the bandh.
According to a report by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), there was an overall reduction of pollutants by 16.5%, when compared to normal days. The air quality samples were analysed at the City railway station and regional office complex of KSPCB in SG Halli on January 21 and 22 from 6 am to 6 pm on both days.
At the City railway station, measured pollutants like sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), decreased by 21%, 15.4%, 26.3% and 53.3%, respectively. The overall reduction was 29% on bandh day, when compared to January 21.
Meanwhile, measured pollutants decreased by 14%, 14.3%, 16.7% and 21%, respectively, at the regional office complex, KSPCB, SG Halli, a residential area. The overall reduction was 16.5% on bandh day as compared to the previous day.
The continuous ambient air quality monitoring station revealed that sulphur dioxide levels at the city station was 12 micrograms a metre cube (MPMC) on average days, while it was 9.5MPMC- a 21% reduction on bandh day. The standard value according to central government norms is 80MPMC.
Carbon dioxide level recorded on an average day is 1.3MPMC, but on Saturday 1.1MPMC was recorded against the standard value of 2MPMC. This was a 15.4% reduction in the value.
In case of RSPM, as against the standard value of 100MPMC, an average of 65.5MPMC was recorded on the previous day of the bandh, but on Saturday, only 48.3MPMC was recorded, a decrease of 26.3% in the values. In case of NO2, as against the standard value of 80MPMC, any normal day records an average of 128.5MPMC, but on Saturday, a value of 60.1MPMC was recorded. This was a 53.3% reduction.
In SG Halli, the continuous ambient air quality monitoring station revealed that SO2 levels on average days was recorded at 5MPMC, while it was 4.3MPMC on bandh day — a reduction of 14%. The CO recorded on Saturday was 0.6MPMC, as against the 0.7MPMC on an average day. This was a 14.3% reduction in the value.
In case of RSPM, an average day recorded 17.5MPMC against the standard value of 100MPMC, but on bandh day, 15MPMC was recorded, which was a 16.7% reduction in the values. As far as NO2 was concerned, as against the standard value of 80MPMC, the average day record was 45.5MPMC. However, on Saturday it was 36MPMC, a 21% reduction in the values.
KSPCB chairman AS Sadashivaiah said that levels were recorded only in these two places because they had an online monitoring mechanism.
“It is nice that the air quality levels had dropped in the city on the day of the bandh, though it was by a mere 16%. It is because less four-wheelers and private vehicles plied on the roads on bandh days. But the reduction number is a welcome change.’’
He said the only way to reduce pollution was to voluntarily reduce the movement of vehicles and not wait for such occasions. “There is a need to realise that reduction in number of private vehicles leads to better environment and better air quality,” he said.
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