Vehicular pollution in India

Shaikh Zaid N.

Vehicular pollution has grown at an alarming rate due to growing urbanisation in India and has become a serious problem particularly in big cities. Vehicular emission is the release of harmful materials, called pollutants, into the environment by the motor vehicles. The primary source of vehicular pollution occurs through the process of burning gas to power cars and trucks, which releases a variety of emissions into the atmosphere. Various fuels used include petrol, diesel and compressed natural gas. The main pollutants emitted are hydrocarbons, lead, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.

The rapidly growing number of vehicles, two-stroke engines, poor fuel quality, old vehicles, inadequate maintenance, congested traffic, poor road condition and old automotive technologies and traffic management systems are leading to pollution.

The vehicle emissions have damaging effects on both human health and ecology. The effects of these have begun to tell through various diseases like cough, headache, nausea, irritation of eyes, various bronchial and visibility problems. The effects may be direct as well as indirect covering right from reduced visibility to cancers and death in some cases of acute exposure of pollutants especially carbon monoxide.

In order to control the emissions from vehicles, the government introduced Bharat Stage Emission Norms. These are standards made by the Government in order to regulate the output of air pollutants from various motor vehicle engines. Currently, the Bharat Stage 6 (BSVI) emission norms are being enforced across the country. Also to check whether our vehicle is creating pollution, PUC (Pollution under Control) certificate is issued. The vehicle is checked through Auto Exhaust Gas Analyser, which tells whether the pollutants released from our vehicle are within limit or not.

Only Government alone cannot fight against the pollution, we the users of vehicles should also take necessary steps. Various simple measures can prove effective. If we want to go a short distance instead of taking the vehicle we can walk the distance, whenever possible use public transport. If 3, 4 members living nearby go to the same place for work, instead of taking different vehicles go by only one vehicle which is called as carpooling. If possible try to buy an electric vehicle which will greatly help in reducing pollution. These steps will help in creating healthy and pollution-free environment.

(The writer is a student at the Government College of Engineering Aurangabad).