TO MEASURE THE INCREASING RATE OF AIR POLLUTION AND TO

DETERMINE ITS EFFECTS ON THE RESIDENTS OF BANGALURU

FROM:
SECTION D (GROUP 4)
SUBHADEEP CHAKRABORTY
SHRINIVASPRASAD
B

SUBMITTED TO:
REKHA ARANHA
Assistant Professor, MBA Dept

SRINATH SINGANAMALLI
SRIRANGA G H SOUNDARYA

Executive Summary
Air pollution receives one of the prime concerns in India, primarily due to rapid economic
growth, industrialization and urbanization with associated increase in energy demands. Lacks of
implementation of environmental regulations are contributing to the bad air quality of most of
the Indian cities. The effects on air quality of the rapid increase in industrialization, urbanization
and vehicularization are becoming increasingly apparent in Bangaluru. The rapid development,
together with the emission trends(e.g. Those resulting from changes in energy, fuel, and vehicle
use), population trends( The degree of urbanization), health trends( age structure and background
disease rates) will influence the extent to which exposure to air pollution affects the health on the
residents of Bangaluru. Accordingly, government decision makers, the private sector and other
local stake holders are increasingly raising the issue of the health impacts on the residents of
Bangaluru. Based on the above problem, a research was conducted to know about the perception
of air quality or the level of increasing rate of air pollution based on a questionnaire. The type of
Research used here is Descriptive research, as it is an existing problem of to determine the
increasing level of air pollution in Bangaluru and subsequently determine the effects on health on
the residents of Bangaluru. Here researcher used simple random sampling, as researcher
randomly distributed our questionnaire to the MBA students across Bangaluru, and obtained their
opinions. As researcher obtained responses from several colleges across the city, researcher used
this type of sampling. The number of engineering graduates who is graduating every year is close
to 25000& above, our population size is closing up to 25000+ Engineering graduates. As the
research conducted is for educational purposes, and with considering time frame of the research,
researcher limited the sample size to 30. The primary data was collected by Questionnaire
method, where researcher developed the Questionnaire and forwarded the same to the MBA
students via

E-mail survey
Google docs
Questionnaire

The secondary data was extracted on Wikipedia and various other educational portals

INTRODUCTION
The present-day atmosphere is quite different from the natural atmosphere that existed before the
Industrial Revolution (1980), in terms of chemical composition. If the natural atmosphere is
considered to be clean, then this means that clean air cannot be found anywhere in todays
atmosphere. Defining air pollution is not simple. One could claim that air pollution started
when humans began burning fuels. In other words, all man-made (anthropogenic) emissions into
the air can be called air pollution, because they alter the chemical composition of the natural
atmosphere. The increase in the global concentrations of greenhouse gases CO2, CH4 and N2
can be called air pollution using this approach, even though the concentrations have not found to
be toxic for humans and the ecosystem. One can refine this approach and only consider
anthropogenic emissions of harmful chemicals as air pollution. Horesearcherver, this refined
approach has some drawbacks. Firstly, one has to define what harmful means. Harmful
could mean an adverse effect on the health of living things, an adverse effect on anthropogenic or
natural non-living structures, or a reduction in the airs visibility. Also, a chemical that does not
cause any short-term harmful effects may accumulate in the atmosphere and create a long-term
harmful effect.

Bangaluru is one of the fastest growing cities in Asia with a population of over 9 million and
growing rapidly in all directions (360 degree). As the population increased, so has the number of
vehicles on the road. According to the transport department, Bangaluru has become more
congested since 2008. The number of vehicles on the roads has increased from 29.27 lakh (2.29
million) to 34.91 lakh (3.49 million) in just two years from 2008- 2010 (this figure does not
include vehicles that are registered outside the city and state). There are about 40 lakh vehicles in
Bangaluru. The city contributes nearly half of the total vehicle population in the state. Number of
vehicles in Bangaluru is growing day by day. As per records 70% are two wheelers, 15% are
cars, 4% account for autos and 8% buses, trucks, tempos, vans, etc. Also there are about 10,000
illegal autos per the government sources.

Research Methodology
Type of Research:
The type of Research used here is Applied research and the research design used is Descriptive
research, as it is an existing problem and researcher is determining the increasing level of air
pollution in Bangaluru and subsequently determine the effects on health on the residents of
Bangaluru.

Type of Sampling:
Here researcher used simple random sampling, as researcher randomly distributed our
questionnaire to the MBA students across Bangaluru, and obtained their opinions. As researcher
obtained responses from several colleges across the city, researcher used this type of sampling.

Population:
The number of engineering graduates who is graduating every year is close to 25000& above,
our population size is closing up to 25000+ Engineering graduates.

Sample size:
As the research conducted is for educational purposes, and with considering time frame of the
research, researcher limited the sample size to 30.

Data collection:
The primary data was collected by Questionnaire method, where researcher developed the
Questionnaire and forwarded the same to the MBA students through:

E-mail survey
Google docs
Questionnaire

The secondary data was extracted on Wikipedia and various other educational portals

DISCUSSION
Air pollution arises from different sources such as industrial activities, open burning, fuel
combustion, evaporation, etc. One of the major sources of air pollution is from transportation
sources due to the exhaust gas from the tail pipe, mainly due to incomplete combustion of fuels.
Key air pollutants, also referred as Common Air Pollutants (CAP) are emitted due to the
vehicular traffic. Health effects of air pollution are already researcherll known. For example,
carbon monoxide (CO) slows the delivery of oxygen to the bodys organs and tissues. Exposure
to CO aggravates heart disease and can cause headaches and visual impairment. One can see
number of traffic police personnel researcheraring mask while on duty. Also many two wheeler
riders are researcheraring handkerchief covering their mouth and nose to prevent or reduce
inhalation of exhaust gases. Following table provides an estimate of vehicles based on the
percentage.
VEHICLE CATEGORY

POPULATION in %

NUMBER

TWO WHEELERS
CARS
AUTOS
BUS, TRUCKS, VANS, TEMPOS

70
15
4
8

OF VEHICLES
28,00,000
6,00,000
1,60,000
3,20,000

Control Measures:- There are number of action items that can be incorporated to reduce
pollution by CAPs from transportation sources in Bangaluru. They are discussed briefly below:

a) Location of Exhaust: Currently the exhaust system in the vehicles in Bangaluru (almost
everywhere in India) is located at the bottom of the vehicle and is at the breathing level
(see above photo). The location of exhaust system from where exhaust gases containing
potential air pollutants are emitted, affects pedestrians and riders of other passenger
vehicles specifically the two wheelers and auto rickshaws that are prevalent on Bangaluru
roads.
b) Testing of emissions from vehicles including Heavy Duty vehicles: Vehicles such as
cars and motorcycles are tested for their emissions. It is not clear at this time if other
vehicle categories such as diesel trucks / buses and vans are tested. One can visually see

the dark colored exhaust coming out of the tail pipe from these vehicles (including
number of government vehicles).
c) Four-stroke engine vehicles including motorcycles: The advantages of four-stroke
engines are very researcherll known. Currently there are too many two-stroke engine
vehicles on the road. The disadvantages of two-stroke engines are:
Two-stroke engines produce more pollution from the combustion of the oil in the
gas. The oil makes all two-stroke engines smoky to some extent, and a badly

worn two-stroke engine can emit more oily smoke.

Each time a new mix of air/fuel is loaded into the combustion chamber, part of
it leaks out through the exhaust port.
In two-stroke engines, the intake and exhaust cycles are combined into a single
piston stroke, and a mixture of air and fuel blows the exhaust products out of the
engine. Four stroke engines use four distinct piston strokes to control the fuel
and exhaust cycles. As the piston shoves out the exhaust, less unburned fuel is
emitted into the water and air.
Currently, there are number of auto rickshaws in the city that have duel fuel four
stroke engines there by reducing air pollutant emissions from the exhaust.

d) Public Transport such as Metro / Mono Rail: Introduction of metro Rail is a great
researcherlcome relief for Bangaluru. Still there is a need to reduce and control air
emissions from transportation sources even after the Metro Rail is fully operational. As
planned, metro rail runs from North-South and East-Researcherst corridors of the city.
Other areas still depend on bus and other modes of transportation. As discussed in the
introduction section, currently there are 40 lakh vehicles on road in the city. When the
Metro Rail is fully operational in future, tens of thousands of vehicles may be off the road
when the public start using the rail system. Thousands of two wheelers, autos and cars on
the road would be reduced. If there is a ridership report from BMRCL, it should give
more accurate number.

CONCLUSION
The rapid population growth of vehicles in multiple ratios continues to be a matter of
concern for the Bangalore city as it has manifold effects since the last decade, one of the
most important being environment degradation. The unprecedented speed of urbanization
of Bangalore has resulted in enormous pressure on the environment with severe adverse
impacts in terms of pollution, and today city is considered as one of the most polluted
city in the country. While the projected rate of population increase may be reduced, even
moderate population growth is likely to lead to substantial increases due to passenger and
freight travel demand in the city, due to introduction of Metro, Monorail, BRTS, fuel
price etc. The increasing geographic dispersion of metropolitan population is also likely
to increase aggregate transportation demand, since the greater number of trips will also be
longer and public transport will be less efficient and universal. So to improve the quality
of air and water there is a need of strict enforcement and monitoring program by the
Karnataka Pollution Control Board. There is also a need traffic regulations; efficient

public transportation system in the city and heavy penalties and seizure of vehicles during
violation of rules should be imposed on public. For the protection of environment more
emphasis should be laid on compulsory environmental education at school level for the
awareness to people know about how and why we need to save environment.

REASEARCH QUESTIONARE
Objective:
To determine the effects of increasing level of air pollution on the
residents of Bangaluru.
Name (Optional):
Gender:

Male

..
Female

AGE:

1) What do you feel about the air quality in Bangaluru?

Excellent
Good
Medium
Bad
Very Bad
2) How important is the issue of increasing level of air pollution
to you personally?

Very Serious

Serious

Normal

Not Serious

Doesnt Matter
3) According to you what is the main source of air pollution to
you?
(Single Tick)
Vehicles
Factories
Commercial
Others
4) Who do you think is authorized to control Air Pollution in
Bangaluru?
(Multiple Ticks)
Citizens
NGOs
Industrialists
State Govt.
MLA
Corporation
YE

Don

t
Kno
w

5) Has the Air Pollution affected your Health?

6) Has Air Pollution Effected the health of Your
Family/Friends?
7) When you retire, do you feel of moving
somewhere else from Bangaluru because of
pollution here?
8) Do You Smoke?

Strong Agre Neutr

Disagr

Strong

ly

ee

ly

al

Agree

Disagr
ee

9) Do you feel Govt. should

give incentives to people to
take care of environment?
10) State govt. is doing a lot
to control the level of Air
Pollution in Bangaluru?
11) Do you feel the pattern
of

researcherather

is

changing in Bangaluru?
12)
Bangaluru
is

still

considered as the Garden

City?

13) Are you Aware about the information on Pollution Control?

YES

NO

If Yes, Would you come forward to volunteer?

YES

NO

Thank you for your time and feedback