Bengaluru has earned itself the dubious distinction of being one of India's most polluted cities. Attempts at sustainability have been cursory as air, water and noise pollutions rise dramatically each year. On World Environment Day, experts talk switching to renewables, conserving water and improving green cover. But while solutions are aplenty, the lack of will continues to hold us back, report Chandrashekar G. and Aknisree Karthik.
Bengaluru is one of the most polluted cities to the extent that breathing clean air, drinking clean water and the green cover around us has become a mirage.
Ask Bengaluru's tree doctor and conservationist Mr Vijay Nishanth on what has forced the city to reach this state, he replied that there many reasons which has brought the city to this state.
"Swelling population, increasing number of vehicles, shrinking green cover, concretisation have all done the damage to the city" he says. He explained this concept by comparing his home as the city and considering the increasing population as guests who have come to stay at his home.
"At my home I can accommodate five and look after their needs with the available resources. Even if the number of guest double, I can still be able to somehow manage by adjusting. But what will happen if I have to accommodate 50 or even more at the space available at my home" questioned Mr Vijay Nishanth and added that Bengaluru is facing similar condition.
"Nothing is done to check the brimming population. There is no proper figures on the number of trees in the city. But roughly there could be over 15 lakh trees and if we tally it with one crore population of the city, eight persons have one tree" lamented Mr Vijay Nishanth.
When asked on his opinion to save Bengaluru environmentalist and director of Eco Watch Mr Akshay Heblikar too stressed on the need for decongesting Bengaluru.
"The most important thing for Bangalore is to have few sub-cities and spread the development across these regions" Mr Akshay said. "Another way is to decongest the city by carrying development to other parts of the state. Why just one Bangalore.... ? We can have few more Bangalores in other regions of state. Regional balance will be achieved by this" explains Mr Akshay.
Further Mr Vijay Nishanth batted for reviving the trend of gundu thopus in every neighborhood which was the case in olden days. "Gundu thopus are woodlots that have the potential to supply things like fruits and other essentials for the neighbor hood. They act as carbon sinks and serve as a recreational space for bird watching and bush walking" Mr Vijay added.
Air pollution
- To understand pollution levels in the air we breathe, government agencies use an Air Quality Index.
- Anything over 300 points indicates that the air quality is hazardous and values below 50 indicate that it is good.
- Going by the figures assessed from the Karnataka Pollution Control Board the value of Air Quality Index stands at 96.
- Even though the figure is 'satisfactory', a KSPCB official lamented that AQI values are increasing every year.
Noise pollution
- Noise pollution levels in the city have soared over the years.
- Permissible noise levels remain at 40-70 decibels. Decibel levels at many places of the city have crossed 100 decibels during peak hour traffic.
- Officials of KSPCB attribute the rising trend to the increasing number of vehicles on road. 3000 new vehicles enter the roads each day, no doubt contributing to the rising noise levels.
Water pollution
- Pollution levels in city lakes are shocking, presenting far more alarming numbers than air and noise parameters.
- The KSPCB’s classification of water samples taken from lakes and tanks across the city, between April 2016 and March 2017, showed that none of the lakes in the city had a satisfactory water quality index.
- Not a single lake under the 51 surveyed was classified under class A (which means that water can be used for drinking without conventional treatment but after disinfection) or class B (used for outdoor bathing).
What’s stopping govt offices from going solar?
While the state government and its various agencies splurge on observing World Environment Day every year, they don’t care enough to opt for green energy or becoming energy efficient, which could make a real difference to the cause.
But at long last Bescom is now planning to install solar panels on some of the government buildings in Hebbal and Rajajinagar to help them go green in generating power.
Giving the thumbs up to the initiative, some energy experts believe government agencies must show the way by taking to solar and other renewable forms of energy and giving up polluting diesel vehicles.
Says energy expert, H. R. Shreesha, “If the government reduces carbon emissions that would be the real celebration of environment day. Its offices must go off the power grid and use solar power by installing solar panels on their rooftops.”
Pointing out that the Karnataka State Cricket Association has done a good job of installing solar panels and generating close to one kilowatt of power, he says except for air conditioning units, the government can use solar power for lighting, fan and for running systems too in its buildings.
In his view, it could generate about 30 per cent of the power it needs for its use by installing solar panels on all its buildings.
Another energy expert, Mr Prabhakar of the FKCCI, however, explains that the orientation of the buildings and their location will also matter when installing solar panels.
Lakes: Is government waiting for another court order?
Once known as the city of a thousand lakes, Bengaluru today has hardly 200 of these water bodies left. Sadly, some of the lakes the city is left with are so polluted that they are spewing a strange white foam, bringing it disgrace nationally. While the state government is making serious effort to revive the frothing and smelly Bellandur lake on the orders of the National Green Tribunal, little is being done to save the other water bodies that are in need of serious attention too.
Asks water expert and member of People's Campaign for Water, Kshthij Urs “We see measures being taken only to revive the Bellandur lake. But what about other lakes? Aren't they a part of the city too ? Is the government waiting for another court order to wake up and revive them ? Many other lakes in the city, be it Varthur or Subramanyapura are equally polluted and need immediate attention.”
Suggesting a comprehensive approach to saving the lakes, he says the government's focus shouldn't be on merely reviving one lake at a time. “A radical approach is needed for the all the lakes in the city. We need to immediately stop untreated sewage from entering lakes and illegal dumping of garbage into them,” he emphasises, also suggesting that the government take adequate steps to conserve the rain water the city receives.
‘Green cover reduces drastically, tree clusters make way for utilities’
Loss of green cover and rising pollution can have a much more direct impact on our lives than we think, warn environmentalists. One keen eco activist, Harini Nagendra points to a study which says children in polluted countries have about five to seven years less life expectancy , and to another, which says that roadside trees can reduce pollution by 80 per cent.
“But sadly tree clusters are disappearing in the name of development and for making room for utilities like hospitals, schools, and panchayat offices. Although we need these utilities the choice of space for them is wrong. Gundu thopus (tree clusters) must not be touched,” she stresses, adding, “It is very disheartening to note that the government, which celebrates World Environment Day with much fanfare has reduced the city’s green cover from 15 per cent to barely 10 per cent. Considering the growth of the city and the density of its houses the 15 per cent itself was too low.”
Ms Nagendra fears that given the present trend, the government could introduce more laws to further reduce the city’s green cover, which could in the long run lead to more health problems among people. Observing that even the newly added areas of the city are grey rather than green and have hardly any lung space, she says, “In fact, core Bengaluru has better greenery. Most areas on the outskirts of the city have pocket- sized parks, which are just inadequate for the population living there. Children and senior citizens hardly find any green space, Since the city’s periphery is the developing area, focus must be given on improving its green cover.”
‘Solutions can go nowhere without political will’
To me every day is World Environment Day and that is how it should be for everyone. But having a day dedicated to the environment is very important too because it forces people to be environmentally aware . Even though people are busy all through the year, at least one day in the month of June they come together and do activities related to the environment. It gives them an opportunity to go on tree planting and clean- up drives and becomes a conversation starter. Even if it is for one day, it makes a considerable difference. When it comes to India, I believe we are more aware than most countries as respect for the environment is ingrained in our culture. We personify nature. For example, we address rivers, our land and trees as our mother. But I must admit we have lost our way for the last 100 years. Having said that, we still have the chance to come back and set things right. We are not used to non -renewable energy yet and this can be overcome with solar power, bio fuel and other renewable sources.
One can speak about solutions but political will is equally important and currently, there is none. Just like the city moved as one and got the government to give up the steel flyover, we must care for our environment as one and inculcate a love for nature among all people.
- Ricky Kej, Grammy award winner and environmentalist
