Slum rehab schemes in focus

Snehal Sonawane / TNN / Aug 28, 2007, 04:29 IST

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High emission of particulate matter in slums mentioned in the environment status report (ESR) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has underlined the need for effective implementation of slum rehabilitation schemes.

PUNE: High emission of particulate matter in slums mentioned in the environment status report (ESR) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has underlined the need for effective implementation of slum rehabilitation schemes, not only for reducing the population in slums, but also improving the environment in the city.
According to the ESR, a study was conducted by the air quality management cell of the civic body in slum areas, which revealed that as much as 1800 micro gram per cubic meter (mg/cm) of particulate matter was emitted there.The average outdoor standards for residential areas is 50 mg/cm.
Particulate matter is extremely harmful to health as it enters the lungs and causes respiratory disorders like asthma.
Speaking to TOI here on Monday, Ajay Oza, head of AQMC, said that a sample survey of 502 hutments and another study of 50 hutments in Manjri and Hadapsar slums was conducted by the AQMC last year.

"It revealed that the slum-dwellers live in hazardous conditions as a very high amount of particulate matter is present in these areas due to lack of ventilation. It is also observed that more than one type of fuel was used in most of the houses," Oza said.
He pointed out that while the use of LPG and kerosene was less harmful, burning of wood and charcoal was most hazardous, which was being used as fuel in slum areas.
The proportion of use of wood, kerosene and LPG is 0.196:0.405:0.317.

Oza said that the study revealed that LPG was also not the safest option and the AQMC was devising a strategy to work out the use of fuels for the safety of citizens and the city’s environment.
Considering that nearly 35 per cent of Pune’s population lived in slums, the quality of here was crucial for the entire city, which should not be overlooked, The ESR says.
It pointed out that most of these harmful particles were emitted through the smoke while cooking, hence the women in slums were most vulnerable.
A recent survey at eight slums in the city by the Tathapi Trust, an NGO working for the welfare of women and children, revealed that the urban poor living in slums were forced to use wood, rags, plastic and other waste as cooking fuel due to non-availability of kerosene in ration shops and high cost of LPG (TOI, Aug 24).
The survey in 2006 has revealed how women in slums had to spend one to four hours every day in search of firewood and how their cooking time had increased by two hours due to the use of wood for cooking. Women were also found to be suffering from chest problems, eye irritation and pain in the legs because of the change in the cooking medium.
The findings of the ESR corroborates the findings of the Tathapi Trust survey.

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