Pollution up despite adoption of better fuel

State Pollution Control Board registers a rise of as much as 5 per cent despite introduction of Euro IV grade fuel since April 1

State Pollution Control Board registers a rise of as much as 5 per cent despite introduction of Euro IV grade fuel since April 1

Pollution levels in Bangalore have actually increased since the introduction of Euro IV grade fuel on April 1.u00a0

Thirteen cities across India, including Bangalore, were put on Euro IV grade fuel on the date to meet global environment standards.
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Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) statistics confirm that pollution has steadily risen since January and it peaked by the last week of April.

Pollution in the city has steadily risen since January and it peaked by the last week of April.

This has happened despite the fact that the city has switched to cleaner fuel. In some stretches of the city like the KBH Industrial area, pollution levels have registered as much as a five per cent rise since January.

Fuel prices for petrol and diesel went up by 50 paise and 26 paise per litre respectively from April 1 in the 13 cities.

Bhushan Narang, president ofu00a0 Bangalore Petroleum Dealers' Association said, "Euro IV grade fuel is being supplied to all the 400 petrol bunks in the city since April 1.
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There is no chance for increase of pollution level in the city.
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The increase of few points in pollution levels may be because of the frequent power cuts. People are probably burning more diesel by operating generators."

A KSPCB official said, "Pollution levels are sensitive to changes in weather. During summer, the levels increase. When strong winds blow, the level comes down. During the rainy and post-monsoon months, pollution levels go down substantially."

400
Number of petrol pumps that made the shift from Euro III to Euro IV fuel from April 1 in the city

40,000
Kilolitres of petrol consumed in Bangalore in a month

35,000
Kilolitres of diesel consumed in Bangalore in a month

Why Euro IV is better
Euro IV standards allow a maximum of 50 parts per million (PPM) of sulphur a known pollutant, in a litre of petrol and diesel. Euro III fuel specifications allow as much as 350 parts per million.

Pollution Checkpoints

KSPCB checks the ambient air quality at AMCO Batteries, Graphite India, KHB Industrial area, International Machine Tools and Accessories, Peenya Industrial Area, Yeshwantpur Police Station and Victoria Hospital. A mobile laboratory helps the body in the task.