KSPCB to evaluate city action plans for improving Bengaluru’s air quality based on latest studies
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Friday said they will be analyzing their city action plans using two recent air pollution source assessment studies in their efforts to improve air quality across the state.
While Bengaluru's deteriorating air quality is a cause for concern, studies released by the Center for Study of Science, Technology, and Policy (CSTEP) have revealed that measures targeted at polluting sources can help lower pollution levels.
According to CSTEP’s research released earlier this year, the transportation industry is the largest source (40–51%) of particulate matter, followed by road dust resuspension (17–51%). Construction dust, household gasoline, and diesel generators are among the other polluting industries.
Air has suspended particulate matter (PM) of different sizes. Many of these are a complex mixture of dust, pollen, soot, and smoke and they are hazardous. Of this, PM 2.5 is the smaller kind, with a diameter, of not more than 2.5 micrometers (fine particles). PM2.5 is considered to have a very significant health impact as it can stay in the air for days or weeks, and is small enough to invade the lung airways.
The studies, titled "Emission Inventory and Pollution Reduction Strategies for Bengaluru" and "Identification of Polluting Sources for Bengaluru," identified polluting sources/activities or hotspots for the city, which has been a major concern for air pollution regulators and policymakers.
On Friday, April 29, 2022, CSTEP held data dissemination and capacity building event for over 50 Karnataka government officials at Shangri-La, Bengaluru, where findings of the two studies were shared to ensure the implementation of solutions from the studies as well as empower government officials to make informed decisions.
At the workshop, Dr Shanth A. Thimmaiah, Chairman, KSPCB reflected on the need for micro action plans that will help pollution control boards to take effective, result-oriented action toward improving air quality. “The event is an opportunity to evaluate our work. CSTEP’s reports will be used as a base for studying and making clean air action plans for three other non-attainment cities through a Plan-Do-Check-Act approach,” he said.
Shri Vijay Mohan Raj, IFS, Principal Secretary, Ecology and Environment Department, Government of Karnataka, highlighted the need for air guilt—the guilt that comes from knowing that we are contributing to air pollution (and how)—to be felt by all and drive our actions. “To do this, data needs to be presented in simple formats that could be understood even by children. I hope that such reports can bring about last-mile changes to improve air quality,” he said.
CSTEP’s study findings revealed that Bengaluru can see possible concentration reductions of approximately 26.5%, ~13.5%, and ~9.6%, respectively, for high-, medium-, and low-emission reduction scenarios (measures clubbed with varying levels of compliance) for both PM10 and PM2.5 by 2024.
Key measures considered under the scenarios were improvement in public transportation infrastructure, diesel particulate filter installation in trucks, and a strict blanket ban on open waste burning. “Considering Bengaluru’s status as a non-attainment city, conducting a scientific assessment through source apportionment and emission inventory was crucial towards preparing efficient strategies,” said Dr. Pratima Singh, Research Scientist at CSTEP who led the study.
CSTEP—as an Institute of Repute under the National Clean Air Programme—is working with the KSPCB and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to help implement the recommendations. By training state government officials to use scientific methods to assess air quality through this event, CSTEP hopes to enhance the quality and effectiveness of policy decisions.
Ms Puja Tewary, India Coordinator, Climate and Environment Programs, Bloomberg Philanthropies, said, “Scientific evidence highlighted in the report could inform both line departments and KSPCB in preparing city micro action plans.” She reiterated that mutual collaborations among organizations are essential.
A ‘meaningful’ action plan could be prepared as a result of CSTEP’s studies, said Shri Gaurav Gupta, IAS, Chief Commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). “The studies highlight vehicular pollution and road dust as the main issues for Bengaluru. We are working on these sectors. Bengaluru is among the fastest-growing cities, and this is the main reason for air pollution,” he added.
Readers can access the study reports at https://cstep.in/publications.php
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
