Urban Air Pollution Impact and Strategic Plans—A Case Study of a Tier-II City

Rapid urbanization, industrialization and increase in number of vehicles have resulted in decrease in quality of ambient air. The considerable decrease in quality of ambient air is observed especially after the year 1990 in Hubli-Dharwad, a typical tropical climate region in Karnataka. The present study develops a model using Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System to identify the impact zones based on the meteorological and pollutant data surveyed in the year 2013 and other past records. From this model the impact zone for the year 2013 is assessed and found that RSPM level is above the permissible limits as per National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) up to 20–30 % of the study region and a prediction model was also developed for the year 2030 to study the impact zones in the same region. The predictions show that 80 % of the study region is highly polluted especially with Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) along with SOx and NOx may reach to higher levels. Almost the entire Hubli-Dharwad region will be under the exceeded levels of air pollutants by the year 2030. Hence, the proper strategic planning have to be made to control the air pollution. This include, creation of buffer zones between the industrial and residential areas by the detailed study of source apportionment and impact assessment studies to be carried out before to start a new developmental projects in the region.