Mysuru: Deputy Commissioner (DC) D. Randeep launched a mass emission test for government vehicles at Maharaja’s College Grounds here this morning organised by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in association with Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) as part of Air Pollution Control Awareness Month.

Mysureans can breathe easy as the air pollution in city has not reached the alarming levels as that of Delhi nor the city is witnessing traffic chaos like Bengaluru.

KSPCB’s Mysuru Environmental Officer B.M. Prakash, speaking to Star of Mysore said that the pollution levels in city are below the limit set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and is far below the pollution levels in Delhi.

Emission tests for Carbon Monoxide and Hydro Carbon were done to about 300 government vehicles of all types including KSRTC buses from 7 am to 11 am by the Mobile Emission Testing Van of KSPCB.

Earlier, the DC who arrived at the venue on a bicycle, inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp. His official vehicle (Toyota Innova) was brought to the venue by the driver which was tested first and found that the vehicle’s Smoke Value was 11.4% which is well under the limit of 65%.

Vehicles of about 40 Departments such as the Police, MCC, MUDA, PWD and others were tested at the mass drive. Some vehicles which were found emitting more smoke were asked to rectify the same and again come for the test.

Income Tax Department Commissioner Chakrapani, Joint Commissioner of Transport Dr. C.T. Murthy, District Transport Commissioner and RTO (West) Anwar Pasha, RTO (East) Prabhuswamy, Inspectors Sridhar Adhikari, P.A. Charles, Jagannath Rao, Prabhakar and others were present.

The KSPCB Officer has indicated that the air quality in Mysuru could be considered safe based on the levels of Particulate Matter (PM) for dust concentration of size less than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5) and 10 microns (PM 10) of which the former is deadly and its high levels in air can be injurious to one’s health as it causes severe respiratory diseases which may result in death.

Prakash said that KSPCB monitors air pollution twice a week at two places, one at K.R. Circle and the other at KSPCB premises and added that Mysuru air was good as per the air quality index categorisation.

Prakash said that pollutants like Nitrous oxide, Sulphur dioxide, Lead and Ammonia were within the range in city and added that the average level of sulphur dioxide was 2.18 against the limit of 50 micrograms per Normal Metric Cube (NMC) at KSPCB, while it was 2.2 in K.R. Circle. Nitrous oxide was 19.83 against the limit of 40 microgram per NMC at KSPCB and it was 18.8 at K.R. Circle. PM 10 was recorded at 47 against the limit of 60 microgram at KSPCB and was 48.7 in K.R. Circle. PM 2.5 was at 22.85 against the limit of 40 in KSPCB and was 27.20 in K.R. Circle. Mysuru city will soon be getting a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station to provide air quality data on 24×7 basis, which will be established at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds, he said and added that they were waiting for approval from the Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA). Once the KEA approves the land, the unit would be commissioned by the end of Jan. 2018, Praksh said.