The reasons behind propagating such steps, saying vehicles contribute as much as 40 per cent of the total emission load in Delhi and roughly 30 per cent in the region, say Lal
As the city's air oscillates between hazardous and very poor, the Supreme Court appointed pollution watchdog EPCA has again proposed ban on all private vehicles except CNG to combat the pollution Delhi is grappling with. In a letter written to the Central Pollution Control Board, Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) chairperson Bhure Lal has asked it to consider measures regarding private vehicles, if the pollution levels soar dangerously.
He also rapped the city for creating an "air quality crisis" that was "largely of its own making and there was no option but to restrict the use of private vehicles as the current improvement brought by showers is temporary at best". Pointing out that the air in Delhi which is 'very poor at its best'c was still extremely detrimental to human health, Lal wrote, "We have no option but to consider measures that restrict private vehicles."
He further explained the reasons behind propagating such steps, saying vehicles contribute as much as 40 per cent of the total emission load in Delhi and roughly 30 per cent in the region, according to SAFAR emission inventory.
He added that even after removing trucks and other commercial vehicles that run on diesel, there still remains a large number of vehicles that contribute substantially to pollution, particularly private diesel vehicles that add to both NOx and PM emissions.
He added that "other cities like Paris or Beijing include restriction on private vehicles, which is done either by number plate or by fuel type/age".
Lal further said that while the Supreme Court took into account vehicles by fuel type and age and directed for a vehicle scheme, which is yet to take off, the only option available was to "look at either a complete ban on all private vehicles (without the identification of petrol or diesel), other than CNG and/or restriction on plying by number plate (odd-even)."
However, he agreed that restriction on private vehicles without robust public transport "creates huge inconvenience to people."
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