The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is a public agency that regulates the stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties of California's San Francisco Bay Area.
Stringent regulations, grants and large scale public awareness campaign that has helped California's Bay area in bringing down emission levels and curb air pollution could be even emulated by Maharashtra, feel experts from San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is a public agency that regulates the stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties of California's San Francisco Bay Area.
Sharing similarities between Bay area and Mumbai, both located along the coast, Executive Officer of Bay Area Air Quality Management District Jack Broadbent said that for a city like Mumbai, there could be a lot of to learn from Bay area's approach to fight air pollution.
The Bay area, which was one of the worst when it came to air pollution has completely banned the burning of coal and has brought heavy regulations on diesel use. It also has plans that by 2029 every bus should run on electricity and by 2040 all its bus fleet should be running on electricity.
While the agency levies heavy fines, it also provides grants to incentivise reducing emissions.
"We have a scheme where any person bringing us a vehicle older than 1995 is given 1500 US$. If the person signs up to buy an electric vehicle, an additional 2500 US$ will be provided," said Broadbent adding that all such grants are funded under the Clean Air Programme, which has a budget of around 150 Million US$.
Stressing on the need for campaigns, Broadbent said that they are running a very successful campaign called 'Spare The Air' which engages communities to join hands for clean air and have an elaborate website as well as also engages with them through social media. Regular alerts, as well as warnings, are provided on air quality as well.
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