Vehicles pollute more than industries: NEERI study

Traffic contributes to air pollution more than industries and biomass plants, a study by the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has revealed, reports Soubhik Mitra.

Traffic contributes to air pollution more than industries and biomass plants, a study by the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has revealed.

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In Mumbai, given the rate of increase of vehicles on city roads, air pollution could be twice the existing levels by 2025. “The transport sector has emerged as the main emitter of greenhouse gases, exceeding sectors like industries and biomass,” said Rakesh Kumar, director, NEERI.

Traffic congestion would cause more pollution, as vehicles travelling at slow speeds emit more fumes.

According to preliminary projections, vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, cabs and buses, used for regular commute currently emit more than 3.72 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. If the number of vehicles continues to grow at the existing rate, which is a conservative figure considering the projected population increase, emissions in Mumbai are expected to double by 2025, the study claims.

Vehicular population has grown at 300 per cent in the last decade. By 2015, the number of two-wheelers is expected to increase eight times while the car population is likely to grow threefold.

This means motorbikes, which emitted 49,988 tonnes of CO2 until 2007, could release 52,023 tonnes of the harmful gas by 2015. Carbon emissions from cars (petrol and diesel) would increase to 6.26 lakh tonnes from 6.01 lakh tonnes.

The Worli-based research body is conducting the study for the Mumbai Transformation Support Unit, which was formed following an agreement between the World Bank, Maharashtra government and the All India Institute of Local Self Government.