E-vehicles will help curb pollution in Bengaluru, says IISc report

Increasing use of public transport and a shift to electric vehicles will help reduce pollution in the city by nearly 70%, says an IISc report.

The report, produced by a team of researchers led by Ashish Verma, associate professor at Department of Civil Engineering, notes the link between pollution and depletion of vegetation from 68% in 1973 to 23% in 2012.

The encroachment of waterbodies is leading to flooding and bad roads, which will, in turn, lead to higher pollution, it says.

The report, an outcome of a four-year study under CLIMATRANS, an Indo-Norway project, emphasises the role of sustainable transport measures to make Bengaluru livable.

Besides suggesting the use of 100% clean electricity to run cars and buses, the researchers have proposed three other models, which help mitigate pollution by different levels.

"The idea is to make policymakers know how their decision would impact the future of the city and also to propose practical solutions that can be implemented," Prof Verma said.