Over half of PM 2.5 emissions in Ludhiana originate from unmitigated fuel use: study
(File)A significant share of particulate matter emissions in Ludhiana in Punjab, a major industrial and manufacturing hub, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, two contrasting districts in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), originates from fuel use occurring without adequate pollution controls or regulatory oversight, reveals a new study released Wednesday by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST). The study, “Reducing Emissions from Unmitigated Fuel Usage: Data-Driven Strategies for Air Quality and Climate Action in IGP”, which presents the first district-level assessment in India to quantify unmitigated fuel use and the associated emissions across sectors, identified unmitigated fuel use as a major and largely overlooked contributor to air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP).Unmitigated fuel refers to the combustion of any fuel, whether for productive end uses or other purposes, without the application of air pollution control devices (APCDs). According to the study, Ludhiana generates approximately 21,000 tonnes of PM 2.5 emissions annually, of which 54 per cent originates from unmitigated sources. In Varanasi, annual PM₂.₅ emissions are estimated at 14,000 tonnes, with 62 per cent remaining unmitigated. These findings point to a substantial gap in existing emission inventories and clean air planning approaches. The study also found that 65-70 per cent of PM2.5 emissions originate outside city boundaries. The study demonstrates that targeted interventions across key sectors could deliver substantial air quality improvements. Under an ambitious mitigation pathway extending to 2035, total PM₂.₅ emissions could be reduced by 60-70 per cent
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