Pollution eats into city’s lung space

Vijayawada: The city’s lung space has reduced rapidly, thanks to the failure of the machinery to check spread of air and noise pollution. Vehicular pollution has been contributing for lion’s share of carbon monoxide presence in air.

The noise pollution is increasing in direct proportion to air pollution as traffic jams have become order of the day.

The spread of pollution has been beyond control after the city was declared as temporary capital of the state. Contribution of pollution by vehicles is enormous as more and more vehicles have been coming onto the roads during the past two years.

“There is no mechanism to deal with the menace. Honking of vehicles during traffic jams has become common in the city leading to temporary deafness, sometimes permanent in the city,” says Vaseem, a bank employee.

According to official statistics, buses constitute for 17 per cent of travel demand. Similarly, three-seaters comprise 45 per cent of total travel demand followed by 36 per cent of two-wheelers.

The prime objective of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 is to prevent, control and abatement of air pollution. Though such control has been assigned to specific bodies, they are not seen whipping the Act against violators.

Environmental engineer with Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board E Satyanarayana said, “Pollution situation is not alarming though vehicles increased after Vijayawada became capital.”

While the official version hardly matches real situation, the pollution has been eating into the lung space. Many popular parks in the city are directly exposed to vehicular pollution.

People who gather at any park in the city either to walk or to relax in the mornings and evenings have been exposed to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, the latter being more dangerous.

“My purpose of visiting Gandhi Park is to maintain health and take fresh breath. Pollution is not helping people like me to succeed in our endeavour to be healthy,” Ramanaiah, a walker said.

“There has been increased number of cases reported in hospitals on respiratory problems. Many walkers, in their attempt to keep fit, are getting respiratory diseases for getting exposed to air pollution,” says Dr Venkateswara Rao.

On the other hand, owners/drivers of many light vehicles, both three-wheelers and four-wheelers, are using fuel mixed with kerosene to save money spent on petrol.

This is the reason why exhaust of vehicles appear like mosquito fogging with black/white thick smoke coming out of the vehicles. There is no proper check on such vehicles.

These vehicles when trapped in traffic jams, they generate more smoke leading to lethal emissions at important junctions. Even sound pollution from the senseless honking at traffic jams has been causing temporary deafness among vehicle users and pedestrians and passengers travelling in buses and autos.

“We have many spots where we cannot succeed without stopping since taking up of Durga temple flyover works. Half of the travel time wasted in stoppages. Fuel consumption zooms up at low speeds. Who will compensate loss of petrol,” questions Iqbal, an auto driver.