Hyderabad, October 08: “Hyderabad is in imminent danger of losing out on the gains made in reducing levels of air pollution during our analysis of air quality data,” said associate director (Research and Advocacy) of the Centre for Science and Environment, Anumita Roychowdhury.
Hyderabad had started taking steps to contain air pollution in 2003. As a result PM10 levels dipped from 72.2 mg/per cubic cm to 66 mg/ per cubic cm. In 2009-2010, the spectre of elevated air pollution and traffic congestion has again come back to haunt the city.
Despite an ever-growing fleet of private vehicles, Hyderabad still has 70 percent commuters depending on public transport and non-motorized transport. Car trips account for only 9 percent of total traffic. Hyderabad has one of the highest vehicle density in the country. This has resulted in peak hour speed continuously decreasing since 1981, from 40-50 km/hr to 10 km/hr and at some stretches even lower. Also, average journey speed came down from 17 km/hr to 12 km/hr.
Rapidly growing number of vehicles, approximately 0.2 million added each year to existing 2.6 million vehicles, are squarely responsible for increase in air pollution levels. With an addition of 500-600 new vehicles to city roads each day, air pollution control and transportation have emerged as biggest problems of the city.
Even after tightening of air quality standards by the Union ministry of environment and forests, air quality profile of the city has changed for the worst. Locations in the city which were categorized as ‘moderately polluted’ under earlier norms, have spiraled into ‘critically polluted’ category at present.
While only 40 percent of people believe that cleaner domestic fuel has improved air quality, about 55 percent people feel that fuel available in the city is adulterated. 80 percent believe that congestion is a big problem. Only 40 percent believe that flyovers and new roads have helped while 50 percent believe these haven’t been of any help. Interestingly, people have almost unanimously given a thumbs up to buses, walking and cycling as more efficient ways to control air pollution.
–Agencies