IMPACT EVALUATION OF CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) IN BHOPAL DUE TO INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PASSENGER CARS

Abstract [English]

India has been progressing steadily since last two decades in terms of affordability of commodity and purchasing power of the common man. This has given rise to demand which leads to the continuous economic growth. Of course, support from the Government of India as well as various state Governments has come in the form of reforms and infrastructure funding. However this growth has also seen the disadvantage of erratic consumption by wealthy persons as compared to the economically weaker sections, for example on one side there is heavy demand of passenger cars by the higher income group who uses it sparingly but on the other side people of the lower income group who are more in numbers have to rely on public transport. This imbalance creates a wider gap between public affordability to consume a particular commodity like passenger cars. On one side there are persons who buy the latest model introduced by the manufacturer in spite of having sufficient numbers at their disposal and on the other side basic lowest level model are out of reach of some persons in the society, who rely on two-wheeler or public transport which is not reliable.

This has not only created a huge gap in public expenditure but has also impact the environment. With year on year increase in number of vehicles in tier 2 cities like Bhopal, there is tremendous influence on the carbon dioxide (CO2) in and around the city. Past decade saw increase in maximum temperatures during summer rise by 3 – 4 degrees above normal in Bhopal and there is clear effect on the monsoon pattern too which has become inconsistent with rains reaching 120 mm in three days. Earlier this quantity was spread over a month. The last major season of winter is seen getting reduced to two months only from the earlier four, again with temperatures dropping suddenly below normal etc. This effect must be the result of increasing number of passenger vehicles in the city apart from other factors which also need detailed study for their influence.