Pune at high risk of UV rays: Pune Municipal Corporation

Pune: If you are permanent citizen of Pune city, then you are staying in an area which is high risk zone of Ultra Violet rays. For the first time ever, Pune Municipal Corporation has come up with UV rays index in city's Environment Status report (ESR) for the year 2013-14 which was released on Monday. The report has also included the ozone level of the city for the first time and according the report, ozone level in the city is lower compare to the standard set by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its last ESR, PMC for the first time had included carbon foot print of the city and it had became the first municipal corporation in the country to include carbon foot print in ESR. Now going one step ahead, PMC for the first time has included UV index and ozone level in the ESR report for Pune city. Civic body in its ESR has mentioned that the UV index of Pune city is higher compared to the specified standards. The report states that the UV index is calculated from unit zero to 10. From zero to four, there is no risk area and from four unit onwards the risk level starts increasing. The ESR shows that the UV index of Pune is much above the no risk zone. Infact in the month of June, it had gone upto extreme risk level. Mangesh Dighe, head of environment cell head of PMC said, "For the first time we have included UV index in the ESR and it shows that the UV index is higher for the city. Particularly in the month of June, the rain showers clear the air and the UV rays directly penetrate the surface and that time the index is crossing extreme risk level."

While the UV rays index is higher for the city, the ozone level is not upto the standards, states ESR. Dighe said, "The standard set by CPCB for ozone is of 100 microgram per meter, but the ESR states that the ozone level in Pune is lower compare to the standard level."The ESR has also mentioned the carbon footprint of the city this year as well. The carbon footprint report for the city has been prepared by the energy and resources institute (TERI) in Mumbai and the greenhouse gas emission is calculated in CO2 equivalents. The report states that the carbon footprint of Pune is approximately 4.7 million tonne. The report also stated that out of the total greenhouse gas emission of the city, 61 percent is from the residential areas, 27 percent is from commercial zone, eight percent is from industrial sector, three percent is from public works while one percent is from temporary connection.

The ESR has also included the vehicle population of the city and according to the ESR report, in the year 2012, Pune city had total 9,76,553 vehicles but in 2014 the number of vehicles have increased manifold and at present city has vehicle population of 26,66,488.Not just the vehicle population, but there is an increasing pressure of human population. According to ESR, Pune's human population is nearly 35 lakh. The ESR also states that since 2001 to 2011, the vehicle population rate of Pune has been 22.73 percent.