An application moved on Wednesday by the Chief Engineer of Solid Waste Management department states, “The aforesaid vehicles are related to health issues and sanitation of citizens of Mumbai and therefore departments using these vehicles have sought an extension until the procurement of new vehicles.”
While outdated air quality monitoring vehicles, fire fighting vehicles, nursing staff bus and others vehicles owned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are polluting the city, the civic body has moved the Bombay High Court seeking an extension of a year to phase out these vehicles.
An application moved on Wednesday by the Chief Engineer of Solid Waste Management department states, “The aforesaid vehicles are related to health issues and sanitation of citizens of Mumbai and therefore departments using these vehicles have sought an extension until the procurement of new vehicles.”
A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai posted the application for further hearing on Thursday. It said, “We don't accept this approach of the civic body. On the next hearing the corporation, it will have to come with a clear plan on when the vehicles will be procured. After going through, we will consider whether to allow the vehicles to ply or not.”
As per an earlier High Court order, old vehicles which are BS-II (Bharat Stage-II) and BS-III emission compliant, have to be upgraded. These vehicles are more than eight years old, but have to be replaced before they cross 15 years. From the fleet of 1,000 vehicles owned by the corporation, 29 remain to be upgraded.
Among the vehicles which need upgradation are three fire fighters and five water tankers. These, the corporation says, are essential to attend to fires at dumping grounds and other incidents. The vehicles also include one air quality monitoring vehicle, as well as four nursing staff buses required to ferry doctors and nursing staff to various hospitals. Cattle impounding vehicles, which are used to confiscating stray animals on the road to clear traffic, are also among the vehicles that need to be upgraded.
The civic body has claimed in the application that the process to procure new vehicles has begun, and tenders have been floated for certain kind of vehicles. Certain types of vehicles like fire tenders and break down vehicles are expected to be procured within six months. Thus the extension which has regularly been given should be continued, the civic body pleaded. The civic body is concerned and cares for public health and environment issues, and the procurement will be completed before the extended date, it added.
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