Bengaluru: Due to the rising pollution levels in Bengaluru and other big cities in Karnataka, the state government has set up a high-level committee to mitigate the escalating pollution and provide clear air to the residents of the state. The committee, in its decision, has approved the State Action Plan for Clean Air, focusing on cutting down harmful emissions from different sectors and aiming to reduce PM10 emissions—tiny particles that are dangerous for human health.
The government is adamant about imposing pollution rules for several industries, such as transport, agriculture, construction, and waste management. However, the first priority would be to control the dust that appears from construction sites, promote LPG instead of burning coal and wood for fuel, and upgrade older generators as per the emission standard set in 2022.
The plan is set to monitor 17 pollution industries all over the state. Currently, more than 28,716 industries, with 2,652 categorized as “red category” (highly polluting) and 8,710 as “orange category” (moderately polluting), are operating in the state. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has been urging industries to install air quality monitoring stations, and they have to publish their pollution data online.
The Karnataka Chief Secretary went on to see the progress of the work in this regard and asked the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to accelerate pollution control projects. Rs 535 crore was allocated for clean air projects under the 15th Finance Commission.
If the Karnataka government is successful in implementing this plan, it is expected to be a major factor in giving its citizens clean air and a healthy future as well.
