A study from the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) warns that the failure to implement steps to reduce emissions could result in a rise in air pollution of about 40 per cent in Karnataka’s Tier-2 towns by 2030. Here’s all about the rising pollution in Karnataka cities.
Karnataka Cities To Witness Rise In Pollution
The India Clean Air Summit featured the dissemination of the study’s data. As part of creating an emission inventory for 76 cities across 17 states in the nation, CSTEP experts examined Davangere, Kalaburagi, and Hubballi-Dharwad.
Due to their high levels of air pollution, the three cities in Karnataka have been categorised as “non-attainment”. Because of the presence of industries outside of the city limits, Davangere was determined to have the greatest particulate matter emissions at the airshed level, according to the experts.
The estimated increase in emissions in a “business as usual” scenario, in which the government does not take corrective action, was between 31 and 38 per cent. The largest increase among the three was projected for Kalaburagi, at 38 per cent, followed by Hubballi-Dharwad (34 per cent), and Davangere (31 per cent).
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The cities can prevent such a situation and also lower the current pollution levels, according to Pratima Singh, senior research scientist, at Air Quality, CSTEP.
Measures To Take To Control The Situation
Stricter pollution control standards for industry and transport systems, stronger road infrastructure, including the materials used to decrease road degradation, and a switch from coal to cleaner fuels are just a few of the initiatives.
The actions will result in pollution levels dropping in Hubballi-Dharwad, Davangere, and Kalaburagi. The interventions planned under the National Clean Air Plan to mitigate pollution in the medium and long term include CSTEP’s priority initiatives.
Eshwar Khandre, Minister of Forest, Ecology & Environment, appealed for fast action because he was worried that Karnataka’s air pollution levels would be approaching those of Delhi. He remarked in his Friday speech at the India Clean Air Summit (ICAS 2023) that he is committed to making Bengaluru and Karnataka more sustainable and the air cleaner.
He wants to draw attention, in particular, to the situation in New Delhi. Due to the extremely poor air quality and light haze that blankets the city every winter, the megapolis resembles a gas chamber.
He further stated that the goal of annually planting 5 crore trees in Karnataka is one of the crucial objectives their administration is focusing on.
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In just three and a half months, they have already planted more than 3 crore trees.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Rep Img)