Over 4,000 premature deaths are likely to occur in Pune by the year 2020 due to severe respiratory disorders caused by rising air pollution, a six-city study titled ‘Urban air pollution analysis in India’ has revealed. The study was undertaken by Delhi-based air pollution research agency UrbanEmissions.Info. The study said, “In 2020, six cities — Pune, Chennai, Indore, Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot — will account for an estimated annual 21,400 premature deaths due to exposure to air pollution. Pune would account for 4,300 premature deaths, with 12,900 adult chronic bronchitis patients, 94,500 child acute bronchitis patients and 1.4 million asthma attacks,” In Pune city, smoke emitted by road transport and brick kilns, followed by road dust and domestic fuel burning are the largest contributors along with burning of waste and diesel generator sets. In Pune city, smoke emitted by road transport and brick kilns, followed by road dust and domestic fuel burning are the largest contributors along with burning of waste and diesel generator sets. There are six basic interventions that can help arrest the problem. These include increase in non-motorised transport by 20 per cent, a similar increase in public transport, introducing CNG for public transport and three wheeler sectors, change in technology used for baking bricks and reduction in truck movement in the city limits by 20 per cent.
