PANAJI
Creation of green buffers along the traffic corridors, blacktopping of metaled roads and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Security, Integrated Traffic Management system are some of the action plans proposed by the State government to mitigate vehicle emission and re-suspension of road dust and other fugitive emissions in the coastal State of Goa.
The government has drafted an Action Plan to control various forms of pollution including dust and noise and for which various State government authorities like the public works department, department of transport and environment, traffic police, Goa State Pollution Control Board and Goa Waste Management Agencies are entrusted with various tasks. The Action Plan has been prepared following detailed mapping of the cities and other hotspots.
Under ‘Re-suspension of road dust and other fugitive emissions control’, the government has directed the PWD to prepare a plan for creation of green buffers along the traffic corridors to mitigate the environmental impacts of traffic including air and noise pollution and soil erosion. The plan is essentially to design a green belt to surround a busy transportation route.
The department is also directed to maintain potholes-free roads for free-flow of traffic, introducing water fountains at major traffic intersections, wherever feasible, blacktopping of metaled road including pavement of road shoulders, essentially resurfacing them with a bituminous material to improve their condition and extend their lifespan.
As far as Vehicle Emission Control measures are concerned, the departments like transport, traffic, PWD, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation and Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) are the implementing agencies.
Under this, the State has proposed introducing AI traffic system for lane-driving, installation of remote sensor based PUC system linked with transport department server, new expressways/bypasses to avoid congestion, infrastructure decongestion of road, retrofitting of particular filters in diesel vehicles, plan to check fuel adulteration and random monitoring of fuel quality.
As a measure to monitor industrial pollution, the GSPCB has already installed Online Emission Monitoring System for 17 category industries and also the steel manufacturing units are directed to install online system.
