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This is an archive article published on July 30, 2024

2,93,471 new vehicles on Pune roads in 2023, says Environment Status Report as PMC promises Climate Action Plan

The Pune civic body claimed that it has been taking efforts to reduce air pollution by introducing environment friendly buses through public transport service PMPML

The Environment Status Report says that there has been an increase in new vehicles coming on the road with 2,93,471 in 2023 compared to 2,54,907 in 2022 in Pune. (File Photo)The Environment Status Report says that there has been an increase in new vehicles coming on the road with 2,93,471 in 2023 compared to 2,54,907 in 2022 in Pune. (File Photo)

Setting up an ambitious target of making Pune a carbon neutral city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is going to prepare a Climate Action Plan for the city even as the city witnessed poor quality of air for 31 days last year, and increase in power consumption due to rapid urbanisation.

The civic administration tabled the Environment Status Report (ESR) of the city for 2023. “There has been an increase in new vehicles coming on the road with 2,93,471 in 2023 compared to 2,54,907 in 2022. This has made the total strength of vehicles in the city to 38,63,849,” as per the report.

The Pune civic body claimed that it has been taking efforts to reduce air pollution by introducing environment friendly buses through public transport service PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal limited) . There are 1,660 of the total 1,887 PMPML buses running on environment friendly fuel which is 88 percent of the entire fleet.

However, the 2023 data reveals that the air quality in the city on a PM 2.5 parameter was poor for 30 days and very poor for one day while on a PM10 basis it was poor for one day.

In the last five years, the power consumption in the city has increased by 27.98 percent from 60,25,508 kW in 2018-19 to 77,11,532 kW in 2022-23. The solar power generation has increased from 24,614 kW in 2018-19 to 79,618 kW in 2022-23.

“The aim is to make Pune a carbon neutral city and there will be work done on carbon emissions, greenhouse emissions and climate change. The target will be achieved by preparing a Climate Action Plan and executing it,” it said.

Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in: Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps. Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra. Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development. Investigative and Policy Impact: National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism. Additional Interests Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues. Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More


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