It is no secret that Bengaluru's pollution levels have gone from bad to worse over the past decade. A major cause of air pollution is vehicle emissions, and a series of checks conducted in several parts of the city in the last few days by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Transport and Road Safety Department, traffic police and BMTC have shown that we still have a long way to go in curbing pollution.
“Of the approximately 4,400 vehicles tested since June 21, 40 per cent failed emission tests,” said Narendra Holkar, Joint Commissioner of Transport. Around 50 vehicles were seized for emitting black exhaust smoke. First-time offenders were fined Rs. 2,000.
Checks were conducted at Central Silk Board, Old Madras Road, Mysore Road and Tumakuru Road. “Diesel vehicles, including passenger vehicles, and autorickshaws are the major offenders,” said Lakshman, chairman, KSPCB. H.K. Susheen Dutt, ENT surgeon at Fortis Hospitals, says, “One of my patients got off the aircraft in Bengaluru and went straight to a hospital. He suffered severe allergy-induced-asthma due to pollutants in the air.”
One reason for vehicles failing to meet norms is that while Bengaluru follows Bharat Stage IV norms, vehicles in other districts follow BS III norms. These out-of-city vehicles would fail emission norms. The KSPCB is analysing the data and will come up with suitable counter-measures.
The silent killer
With the huge number of vehicles on the road, it is not just air pollution that is a cause of worry. Decibel levels are over permissible limits in several residential localities, according to the KSPCB.
“Sound pollution levels are above the prescribed limits at every point tested,” said Mr. Lakshman.
A KSPCB official said that the problem is worse in residential areas as compared to industrial areas. “In industrial areas, once workers arrive to work, they are inside their workplaces for eight hours. This reduces vehicle noise. In residential areas, noise levels remain high throughout the day because of constant vehicular movement,” he explained.
Noise pollution is manifesting itself in hearing related problems. “Till a few decades ago, high frequency hearing loss used to be seen in persons over the age of 50. We now see such cases among people in their late teens and early twenties,” said Sunil Narayan Dutt, professor and clinical ENT specialist, Apollo Hospitals.
“Exposure to continuous loud sounds can damage the fine hair cells in the ear. Over time, it can cause permanent hearing loss.”
