The Cutting Edge

Air pollution studies find the potential for a 21% cut in particulate matter (PM10) emissions in Bengaluru city by 2024

CSTEP reports “Emission Inventory and Pollution Reduction Strategies for Bengaluru” and “Identification of Polluting Sources for Bengaluru: Source Apportionment Study” indicate that the city has the potential to reduce PM10 emissions by 21% by 2024 if proper control measures are put in place.

The reports, released by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on 4 February, identify transportation and road dust as the biggest contributors to air pollution in Bengaluru. The studies recommend a multi-pronged approach to control particulate matter emissions — PM10 and PM2.5.

Among the recommendations are deploying electric vehicles with charging stations at regular intervals, effective implementation of vehicle scrapping policy, vacuum sweeping of dust from paved roads, laying end-to-end pavements, and covering barren areas on the roadside with green covers.