Delhi
Many Indian towns and cities experience air pollution problems similar to the
Kathmandu Valley. In Delhi (as well as in other areas), there has been a rather
different strategy, focused on the industrial sector as well as transport. Recently
(in November 2000) polluting industries in residential areas have been the subject
of relocation orders, into districts designated for industry. Some existing
industrial units have been ‘sealed’. Not surprisingly, this has resulted in
considerable resistance from industry who claim the sites for relocation lack
adequate infrastructural provision. This emphasizes the need to deal with such
problems in an integrated manner.
Bogota
In this seven-to-eight million strong, high altitude, capital city of Colombia,
transportation is rapidly becoming a nightmare. There is now a high incidence of
respiratory infection in the population and travel times to work are commonly in
excess of two hours. An alternative transport system for the city is planned, and
part already under construction, that is aimed at the needs of 98% of the
population. The plan relies upon:
E an aggressive programme of parking control;
E even/odd car restraint days (‘Pico y Placa’);
E a pedestrian zone and pavement plan that is already under construction;
E a ‘world-level’ bicycle transportation scheme for which the infrastructure is
already under construction;
E ‘car-free’ days in the city;
E the replacement of the planned metro line by a high-capacity fine-mesh
‘Transmilennio’ system made up of articulated buses;
E a vigorous policy aimed at fleet renewal of existing vehicles.
Many problems remain. There are more than 30 000 buses, busetas, minibuses
and collectivos, and over 55 000 taxis. The condition of many of these vehicles
means that emissions to the atmosphere, noise and accidents are an enormous
problem. But if a developing country city like Bogota is able to find a way out of
such problems and devise sustainable solutions, then it will prove a beacon for
other cities in the developing world to tackle similar problems.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has no indigenous fuel. As well as importing oil, diesel and liquid
petroleum gas, it imported 10 Mt of coal per annum, over 60% of which was used
for electricity generation. Coal-fired power generation contributed significantly
to emissions of particulate matter, SO
and NO
V
. However, Hong Kong has a
developing environmental protection system and the Air Pollution Control
Ordinance (1990) was a means of controlling emissions from power plants.
Electrostatic precipitators have effected some control of particulates and the use
J. C. I. Kuylenstierna, W. K. Hicks and M. J. Chadwick
54
Many Indian towns and cities experience air pollution problems similar to the
Kathmandu Valley. In Delhi (as well as in other areas), there has been a rather
different strategy, focused on the industrial sector as well as transport. Recently
(in November 2000) polluting industries in residential areas have been the subject
of relocation orders, into districts designated for industry. Some existing
industrial units have been ‘sealed’. Not surprisingly, this has resulted in
considerable resistance from industry who claim the sites for relocation lack
adequate infrastructural provision. This emphasizes the need to deal with such
problems in an integrated manner.
Bogota
In this seven-to-eight million strong, high altitude, capital city of Colombia,
transportation is rapidly becoming a nightmare. There is now a high incidence of
respiratory infection in the population and travel times to work are commonly in
excess of two hours. An alternative transport system for the city is planned, and
part already under construction, that is aimed at the needs of 98% of the
population. The plan relies upon:
E an aggressive programme of parking control;
E even/odd car restraint days (‘Pico y Placa’);
E a pedestrian zone and pavement plan that is already under construction;
E a ‘world-level’ bicycle transportation scheme for which the infrastructure is
already under construction;
E ‘car-free’ days in the city;
E the replacement of the planned metro line by a high-capacity fine-mesh
‘Transmilennio’ system made up of articulated buses;
E a vigorous policy aimed at fleet renewal of existing vehicles.
Many problems remain. There are more than 30 000 buses, busetas, minibuses
and collectivos, and over 55 000 taxis. The condition of many of these vehicles
means that emissions to the atmosphere, noise and accidents are an enormous
problem. But if a developing country city like Bogota is able to find a way out of
such problems and devise sustainable solutions, then it will prove a beacon for
other cities in the developing world to tackle similar problems.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has no indigenous fuel. As well as importing oil, diesel and liquid
petroleum gas, it imported 10 Mt of coal per annum, over 60% of which was used
for electricity generation. Coal-fired power generation contributed significantly
to emissions of particulate matter, SO
and NO
V
. However, Hong Kong has a
developing environmental protection system and the Air Pollution Control
Ordinance (1990) was a means of controlling emissions from power plants.
Electrostatic precipitators have effected some control of particulates and the use
J. C. I. Kuylenstierna, W. K. Hicks and M. J. Chadwick
54