The dropping air quality index (AQI) in the Delhi-NCR region has been one of the major concerns of the government and it could now ban close to 9.50 lakh diesel vehicles (including private cars) from plying on Delhi-NCR roads. The government will ban these vehicles if air pollution levels are projected to cross the air quality index of 450. Authorities on Wednesday unveiled a revision to the Graded Response Action Plan to fight air pollution, which includes a direction to authorities to stop diesel vehicles from being used in Delhi and adjoining NCR cities if the AQI is projected to rise above 450. An analysis of government data suggests there could be a crisis for commuters if adequate arrangements are not made.
The only diesel vehicles that can be driven are the ones that comply with the Bharat Stage VI tailpipe emissions standards.
An analysis of vehicle data showed that there are 942,447 of these vehicles in Delhi alone. The only diesel vehicles that can be driven are the ones that comply with the Bharat Stage VI tailpipe emissions standards. The national capital has 10 million registered vehicles, with 1.12 million of these conforming to BS6, a standard that became mandatory for all new cars registered after April 1, 2020. Emission standards puts a cap on the maximum limit of pollutants a vehicle can emit for it to be legally approved. Diesel vehicles typically emit significantly higher amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOx) compounds, which have a significant impact on human health. BS6 compliant diesel vehicles are equipped with diesel particulate filter (DPF) and catalyst reductor helping them to emit less than a third of the volume of NOx they were allowed to under the BS4 standards. That said, only a tenth of all 10 million vehicles registered in Delhi comply with the new, less-polluting BS-VI standard.
Over 10 years old diesel vehicles are considered to be de-registered in the Delhi-NCR region.
The Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM), which revised the Grap, has also allowed National Capital Region (NCR) states to ban the use of BS-III petrol and BS IV diesel cars in the third stage of curbs, which is meant to be activated if the AQI is projected to go beyond 400. As per government records, Delhi has 2,957,630 registered BS-III (BS3) vehicles. Diesel vehicles older than 10 years are deemed de-registered in the Delhi.
Few people requesting anonymity have raised concern over the decision calling it a kneejerk step and have questioned the trustworthiness of PUC tests in the city. "Instead of putting up a ban or restriction on vehicles, can't they make the PUC tests more trustworthy," BS Vohra, president of east Delhi RWAs joint front told Hindustan Times. Every year, the crisis begins when North India is shrouded in smoke from farm fires in states of Punjab and Haryana, where farmers set fire to miles and miles of paddy fields after harvest to clear them of residue.
Source: Hindustan Times
