Bengaluru legislators will meet soon to discuss air quality, pollution issues related to city: Khandre

Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said that a meeting would be convened soon with MLAs representing all the 28 Assembly constituencies in Bengaluru to discuss issues related to pollution.

Mr. Khandre, who met Suresh Kumar, MLA for Rajajinagar, on Thursday, said that a meeting would soon be held to ensure that Bengaluru does not turn into “another gas chamber like Delhi”.

According to Daily Air Quality Index (AQI) values data for January 2026, the Hebbal, Jayanagar, Mysore Road, NIMHANS, Central Silk Board, Jigani Industrial Area, RV College of Engineering, and Peenya Industrial Area stations crossed the 100 AQI mark in January. There are in all 11 stations in Bengaluru.

Classification

AQI ranging from 0-50 is considered good with minimal health impact. The AQI ranging from 51 to 100 is considered satisfactory and the possible health impacts are minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

AQI ranging between 101 and 200 is considered moderate, and the possible health impacts are breathing discomfort to the people with asthma and heart diseases.

AQI ranging from 301-400 is considered very poor, and the health impacts are respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. AQI ranging from 401-500 is considered severe, and the health impacts affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.

The Minister said that after holding discussions with the Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar, a meeting will soon be convened under his chairmanship with all elected representatives of Bengaluru and senior officials of urban local bodies.

The Minister said that air, water and noise pollution are increasing in Bengaluru, and controlling them requires cooperation from all the public representatives.

Mr. Suresh Kumar raised the issue of dust pollution and deteriorating air quality in Bengaluru, leading to an increase in respiratory problems among children.

In response to this Mr. Khandre, said that air quality is already being monitored at 11 fixed locations and through 13 mobile units across Bengaluru.

He directed officials to issue notices to the local bodies concerned if the Air Quality Index (AQI) crosses 100 and instruct them to control pollution within a specified timeframe filing which action would be taken as per law.

Plastic use

The Minister said that single-use plastic waste has become a menace in Bengaluru and instructed officials to form awareness squads in coordination with local bodies and other departments to address the issue.

He directed the Environment Department to conduct a detailed review and submit a report within one month on the total number of waste treatment plants in Bengaluru and across the State, of which how many of them are functional, their installed capacity, the current volume (in MLD) of liquid waste being treated and the amount of untreated water entering water bodies.