Characterizing Patna’s ambient air quality and assessing opportunities for policy intervention
According to the latest World Health Organisation estimates on "Ambient (outdoor) air pollution in cities database 2014", Patna is the second most polluted city in the world, in terms of PM2.5 emissions. Additionally given the rapid development in Bihar and especially in the Patna region, this study analyses the sources of air pollution in Patna and assess opportunities for improved air quality management in the city. Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation commissioned UrbanEmissions,info to characterise Patna’s air quality, by building an emissions inventory for the base year 2012 and making use of dispersion model simulations to project up to 2030, and demonstrate the impact of select policy interventions on the city’s air quality. Policy interventions spanning the power generation, transport and industry sectors were assessed by the study.