Cars as new as 3–6-year-old were not allowed
Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR is an annual event in winters. According to World Air quality Report prepared by IQAir, Delhi ranked fourth in the list of 50 of world’s most populated cities in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2022. A study by IIT Kanpur found high amounts of particular pollution caused by biomass burning emissions as a primary source of pollution. Stubble burning, vehicular and industrial emission etc., coupled with the unfavorable meteorological condition in North India (low wind speed and temperature) makes Delhi-NCR a toxic gas chamber during winters.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released “2013-Air Quality Perspective in Delhi” data on 31 Dec 2023, with comparative study of air quality from 2018 to 2023. With the efforts of Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) incepted under the ministry in 2021, barring Covid year 2020 of lockdowns and low anthropogenic activities, the six-year record shows improvement in air quality in 2023, with four months of best ever daily average AQI and three months of second best daily AQI, along with best “Good to Average” AQI of 206 days and second minimum “severe to severe plus” AQI of 15 days.
CAQM has come out with Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in four stages as per AQI index from Poor to Severe plus. With rising AQI, GRAP III was invoked in Nov’23 and again in Dec’23, wherein BS III Petrol and BS IV Diesel vehicles were suddenly banned from Delhi-NCR, with a fine of INR 20,000. The Bharat Stage Emission Standards, BS I-VI, is based on European norms to define output of permissible air pollutants. BS IV compliance was made mandatory in Apr’17, and last registration was allowed till 31 Mar’20. Banning cars with BS IV means cars as new as 3–6-year-old were not allowed to enter or move around in Delhi-NCR.
While the norms have been clearly made after taking expert opinions and with a view of controlling pollution, there should be a lenient view for buyers who bought cars before these were in existence. These vehicles are also passing PUC (Pollution under control) norms. The PUC certificate provides detail of carbon mono-oxide and hydrocarbon emission, and with modifications to include other specification of BSVI regulations, vehicles passing the accepted standards may be allowed to ply. Car manufacturers should also be encouraged to devise pocket friendly external catalytic convertors/devices which can be fitted to these cars to allow them to become compatible to pollution norms. Technology can play a very important role in increasing public will and combating pollution.
Many countries are now going for reducing vehicle use. Amsterdam is called “Cycle capital of the world” promoting cycling as primary mode of transportation. Copenhagen has more cycles than people. Zurich has capped parking spaces. Paris makes public transport free during polluting events. Beijing has implemented a series of measures focused on infrastructure optimization and emission control. Delhi can be next. What is required is a change in mindset and increase in public facilities. Feasibility, accessibility, end-to-end public transport, safe and separate cycling tracks, better quality roads, police assistance, etc. will encourage residents to use more environment friendly commutation alternatives.
‘‘प्रकृति रक्षति रक्षितः’’ i.e. Nature protects those who protects it. Pollution is a side effect of urbanization and industrialization, but it can be controlled by sustainable and rational resolutions, both by government and public, to make the national capital region a better and healthy place to live in.
