Signal-free corridors cut pollution level

LAHORE
Level of dangerous gases and noise pollution on major city roads, turned into signal-free corridors, has decreased indicating that traffic jams is the main cause of creating clusters of pollutants in the ambient air of the provincial capital.
Data collected from various surveys carried out by Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Punjab from trouble points at Ferozepur Road and Canal Bank Road revealed surprising figures. The data was collected before and after turning these roads into signal-free corridors.
As per the data of air quality monitoring, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM2.5) and noise is on decreasing trend after these roads are made signal-free especially at the points where it was very high earlier. Environmentalists said the reasons of improved air quality on both the roads are less traffic jams, improved traffic flow, less traffic congestion, energy conservation measures, improved fuel consumption and continuous movement of traffic.
As per the data, in 2009, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM2.5) and noise at Kalma Chowk was 160, 4, 104, 60, 270 and 81.7 but in January 2015, the level was 136, 3.89, 5.84, 14.14, 95.2 and 81. Similarly in 2009, the pollution level at Children Hospital was 165, 4.3, 110, 52.5, 160 and 83.4 while in January 2015, it was 96.92, 3.29, 6.01, 10.29, 93.1 and 80.9.
Environmentalists said PM2.5 is the main pollutant, which is very harmful for humans and caused various respiratory problems and its level had decreased significantly. Data revealed that in January 2009, the level of PM 2.5 at Thokar Niaz Baig was 258, which in 2012 came down to 127 while in January 2015 it was recorded as 158.
Naseemur Rehman, a senior official of EPD said while talking to The News that excessive tree plantation and signal-free corridors were essential for the provincial capital to reduce pollution level. He said Secretary EPD Dr Iqbal Chohan had recently written a letter to all district governments across the province to encourage industrialists and other donors for tree plantation as well as landscaping at important points.
He said it has already been realised that trees are natural filter to reduce pollution caused by carbon emission from the vehicles and industries. ‘The trees contribute significantly towards purification of air. Trees and other plants make their own food from Carbon dioxide and release oxygen for us to breathe. Trees also help to settle out, trap and hold particulate pollutants (dust, ash, pollen and smoke) that can damage human lungs. Trees remove gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through the pores in the leaf surface. Particulates are tapped and filtered by leafs, stems and twigs, and are finally washed to the ground by the rain fall,’ the secretary wrote in his letter. In the letter, the secretary said there was an international requirement that every country should have 25 percent forest area to balance the eco-system and to control the adverse environmental impacts of climate change while we have only 4.7 percent forest area. This is why it is the dire need of the day that forest area may be enhanced on war footing basis to achieve the international standard.
Naseem revealed that EPD has proposed tree plantation and development of rose belts on both sides of motorway from Ravi Toll Plaza to Thokar Niaz Baig, tree plantation and landscaping in industrial estates and tree plantation and landscaping around the industrial units and brick kilns. He said objectives of this upcoming tree plantation/landscaping proposal were to enhance the visual experience of travelling, to beautify the unsightly view of the Lahore entrance as well as the roadside communities from air and noise pollution, to plant rose belts in order to increase the attraction and ornamentation of roadsides and to prevent the glare from the incoming vehicles on the motorway from Ravi Toll Plaza to Thokar Niaz Baig. He said the long-term objectives of this strategy involved climatic amelioration by planting the trees playing vital role in CO2 reduction, check in air and noise pollution producing from brick kilns and industrial units, check in soil erosion and reduce water logging, moderating the effect of wind and incoming radiation along roadsides, aesthetics, shade and ornamentation along roadsides and increased community awareness and appreciation of the benefits and value of vegetation along roadsides and industrial units.