Vehicles account for 70 percent of carbon monoxide emissions in cities: CPCB

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) says in a recent report that vehicular pollution accounts for 70 percent of carbon monoxide, 50 percent of hydrocarbons and 30 percent of suspended particulate matter of the total pollution load in India’s major cities. This is mainly because while the carrying capacity of city roads has increased only by a small percentage in the past two decades, the number of vehicles plying on these roads has been increasing by more than 10 percent every year.

The report also says that 60 percent of vehicular air pollution is caused by vehicles older than ten years. There are no rules in the country regarding the expiry of private vehicles, which are often poorly maintained. Another reason for increasing pollution is the use of adulterated or low-quality fuel. Out of the four metros, Delhi has the highest level of air pollution, followed by Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Source: Hindustan Times