The Hindu : New Delhi News : `108 per cent rise in diesel vehicles'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 09, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

`108 per cent rise in diesel vehicles'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 8. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has expressed serious concern over the massive increase in registration of diesel vehicles in the Capital and called for an urgent review of the situation. It also stressed the need to bring forward the second- generation reforms to tackle air and vehicular pollution in the city over the next few years.

In a presentation to the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, on the issue of air pollution and measures to tackle it on Wednesday, the Director of CSE, Sunita Narain, explained that there had been a 108 per cent increase in the registration of diesel vehicles in the Capital, which was alarming. Nearly 60,000 diesel vehicles are registered annually in Delhi, which was a cause for concern. Ms. Narain informed the Chief Minister that a lot of gains had been made on controlling pollution in the Capital in close association with the Delhi Government. "However, one cannot afford to sit back as nearly 200,000 vehicles are registered in Delhi every year,'' she added.

The CSE said the focus of the authorities should be to go full-steam ahead with projects in the public transport system, set up tough inspection system and construct a by-pass for Delhi so that heavy or other vehicles do not enter the Capital. In fact, the CSE pointed out that it had carried out inspections at various points to monitor the movement of trucks. It was felt that the Supreme Court ruling of not allowing trucks not destined for Delhi to enter the city was being flouted blatantly.

Similarly, another order of not allowing movement of trucks on the city roads during daytime was also being flouted. The CSE has already informed the Apex Court that the focus should be on construction of a by-pass for Delhi and this job has now been entrusted to the National Highways Authority of India.

Ms. Narain urged the Chief Minister to initiate quick action for starting the High Capacity Bus System project, Electric Trolley Buses and get going with the second phase of the Metro Rail project. It was felt that the time had come to take the fight against pollution further and even if meant imposing any kind of cess of tax on polluting vehicles including diesel vehicles, the Government should not hesitate from doing so.

Ms. Dikshit said the presentation by CSE was very professional and informative. The Government was seized of the matter and it cannot afford to rest on its laurels with the real challenge being to take the fight to its logical conclusion. She said the Delhi Government would incorporate the suggestions given by CSE and the Bhure Lal Committee in the action plan for transport. She also informed that the issue of tackling pollution in the Yamuna would be done in a more scientific manner. The discharge of untreated waste and water into the Yamuna needs to be tackled on a war footing and with new technology, she added. In fact, the Government was already thinking of imposing an "environment tax'' on purchase of two or more vehicles by an individual to discourage use of private transport on Delhi roads.

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