Panjim pollution 3 times natl average -oHerald

Transport, domestic and commercial sectors biggest emitters of greenhouse gases; study recommends measures to reduce the GHG emissions

By Team Herald | 01 Jul, 2016, 05:51AM IST

PANJIM: Transport, domestic and commercial sectors were found to be the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the capital Panjim – whose gas emission is three times the national average, claims a study.

As per the study, undertaken as part of the Smart City Development Mission, the total GHG emission1 for Panjim was 1,44,599 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in the year 2013-14, with the transport sector contributing 38.3 percent, followed by commercial and institutional sector which is 30.6 percent and the residential 25.1 percent. Waste generates around 5.5 percent of gas emission.

The study states that there exists the possibility to reduce the GHG emissions for the city by 27,183 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by the year 2019, which would be around 19percent less that the baseline GHG emissions of 2013-14.

The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICLEI-South Asia for the voluntary project termed ‘Urban Low Emission Development Strategies’, funded by the European Commission. The report was approved by the CCP Council on Thursday. 

“As per the report, transport, domestic and commercial sectors are the largest emitters of greenhouse gas. The emission level is almost three times more than the national level,” CCP Commissioner Deepak Dessai told the council.

Planning documents such as the Holistic Master Plan (2013), Solar City Master Plan (2010), City Sanitation Plan (2015), and revised City Development Plan (2015) have been referred to assess status and gaps, and identify projects and plans across sectors.

The study has come up with a series of recommendations and measures for transport, renewable measures, energy saving, waste, water resources, etc for the city to build upon its priorities.

The measures include use of solar water heaters, solar power lighting, solar PV power, low energy LED, public bicycle share, pedestrian network, 100 percent water connectivity, etc. 

Panjim is among the 33 cities selected for development under the Smart City Mission. 

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