The escalating vehicular population has become a major threat to the City Beautiful. For, the State of Environment Report-Chandigarh 2012 has identified the increasing number of vehicles here as a grave threat to green city of Chandigarh.
Expressing concerns over the burgeoning vehicular population here, the report which was released on Tuesday stated that the major reason for the decreasing quality of air in Chandigarh is the increasing vehicular density on city roads. And, petrol and diesel vehicles are major contributors to the air pollution.
After one year of its establishment, the city had around 940 vehicles and the number of vehicles has escalated to over 9.5 lakh. The report stated that the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) exceeds the permissible limits at primary locations of the city and it is a matter of concern.
According to the report, the latest data of Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) has revealed that in city’s heart Sector 17, both annual and average of RSPM and SPM generally exceeds the permissible limits for residential areas throughout the year with the higher concentration during summer months when the weather is dusty and dirty and also due to ever increasing vehicle pollution load.
The latest data indicated RSPM levels exceeds the permissible limits of 60 µg/m3 while Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen oxide are below the permissible limits of 40 -60 µg/m3 at five locations in the city including Sector 17, Industrial Area, Punjab Engineering College, IMTECH Sector 39, and Kaimbwala village.
Both RSPM and SPM levels usually exceed permissible levels for annual averages in Industrial Area, Punjab Engineering College, IMTECH Sector 30 and village Kaimbwala. The CPCC recorded RSPM levels of 100 µg/m3 at Sector 17, 131 µg/m3 at Industrial area-I, 119 µg/m3 at Kaimbwala village, 102 µg/m3 at IMTECH Sector 39 and 97 µg/m3 at Punjab Engineering College against the permissible limits of 60 µg/m3.
The report has stated that it is found that trend in use of crackers has decreased in Chandigarh in the recent years. Yet, the air quality data during Diwali festival alarms for more strict actions to exercise better control. The data complied by the CPCC suggested that all five locations have SPM and RSPM level increased after Diwali and this was due to smoke and other pollutants by crackers. According to a report of CPCB (2000), Chandigarh is among the 14 cities with critical level of SPM in residential areas.
Accentuating a need to regularly monitor air ambient quality, the report has recommended that monitoring of hotspots or traffic intersections may be taken up and emission load mapping may be conducted at regular intervals. Also, air pollution modeling as a tool for urban planning and environmental quality forecasting may be taken up here.
While talking to The Pioneer, Santosh Kumar, Director UT Environment Department said, “The RSPM and SPM levels which exceeds the permissible limits are a major concern in the city. The increasing vehicular population in not only adding to the traffic woes but has also contributed to air pollution in the city.”
He said, “Besides, other concerns are rapid growing demand of energy. Also, the gap identified between water demand and water supply as well as treatment of sewage water is a matter of concern.”
Santosh said, “The SoER-2012 has been prepared by collection and compilation of data from various Departments. After study of total land use pattern, enforcement of strict drives against encroachments has been recommended. Regarding water supply, there is a gap between current situation, which needs to be improved.
“In the area of green cover, urban forestry needs more attention here. And, the report has advised that dead and diseased trees should be replaced by healthy saplings and every abandoned or vacant space should be utilized for afforestation and qualitative improvement in green cover,” he added.
Interestingly, after UT Administration’s repeated claims on Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary being a part of Chandigarh, the SOER 2012 has not included 26 sq km extended Sanctuary in the total green cover of Chandigarh. The forest cover of Chandigarh is stated to be 34 sq km in the year 2011-12.