Visakhapatnam: The rapid increase in the sales of two-wheelers is adding to the rise of pollution levels in Andhra Pradesh. The motorbikes are taking a pollution load of about 56.2 per cent among the different category of vehicles.
The number of bikes in the state has shot up from 48 lakh to 66 lakh within three years from 2013 to 2015, picking up a staggering growth of 37 per cent.
Two-wheelers comprise 80 per cent of the total vehicles. Of the total 84.35 lakh vehicles (transport and non-transport), about 66 lakh are motorbikes, according to the state transport department.
Given the vehicular pollution load, three-wheelers take 34 per cent, four-wheelers (petrol) 12 per cent, four-wheelers (diesel) 2 per cent, trucks 18.85 per cent and buses 1.54 per cent, among others. The impact of motorbikes could be gauged from the fact that they emit nearly four to five times more nitrogen oxide (NOx) than petrol cars.
What is of great concern is that despite the growing pollution, many people are not ready to give up the personal vehicle culture.
“Though sharing vehicles or opting for public transport services would help curb pollution and save money, a motorbike gives us all comfort as we can go anywhere we want easily,”said M. Abhishek, an employee of the excise department.
“During office hours, RTC buses are overcrowded. It’s really tough to use a packed bus especially for girls. A comfortable public transport ride would surely bring down the number of motorbike users,” said R. Lalitha, a private employee. Some environmentalists opined that hiking the parking fees could deter people from using personal vehicles in the city. Affordability and low EMIs are also the major reasons behind increase in motorbikes, said Sateesh, staff of a bike showroom.
Besides, lakhs of vehicles are violating pollution norms and going unchecked.
Vizag deputy transport commissioner Venkateshwar Rao said, “The people should judiciously use their vehicles as the government cannot stop them from using or buying.
Irrespective of the pollution tests, the vehicle owners should become responsible by servicing their vehicles regularly at an authorised service centre and ensure that they do not emit pollutants beyond standard limit.” He also expressed concern over the sale of adulterated oil in the city.
