The News Minute | June 5, 2014 | 11.37 am IST
Bangalore is one of the most polluted cities in the country, as the findings of two separate bodies reveal. One of the principal causes of pollution in the city is vehicular emissions and there is no mechanism to monitor this.
A report published by Deccan Herald (Bangalore among top 10 polluted places, govt turns blind eye ), there is no mechanism instituted for measuring or monitoring pollution emissions. Both the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board says that its job is only to monitor ambient air quality and that the police and transport department are ones who must monitor vehicular emissions. These two departments have chucked the ball back in the court of the KSPCB.
According to a report by the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, Bangalore’s pollution levels are high across a range of parameters. It ranks among the top 14 cities with the highest levels of pollution among a study sample of 47.
The report, quoted by The Hindu (Bangalore among 14 cities with high levels of pollution ), also says that some areas in the state Capital such as Yeshwantpur and Whitefield have particularly high levels of particulate matter of at least 50 percent.
The Hindu report also quotes doctors who say that children with asthma are the worst-affected. Children have also developed Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.
Another report published by Deccan Herald (Ailments on the rise due to high pollution levels ), says that several health problems are on the rise due to high pollution levels. Allergies of the skin, respiratory problems, were the most common. Read the full report here.