| Air pollution and
Indian cities |
Pollution cloud on Bengal:If
Laloo Prasad Yadav's Bihar is really affected by "an immense wintertime pool of
pollution" as claimed by a NASA study yesterday, experts feel that adjoining states,
including Bengal, are also within the ambit of the pollution spread referred to by Nasa.
Nasa scientists yesterday said on the basis of a four-year study that though "high
pollution levels were found over much of India, a concentrated pool of particles was
discovered over Bihar". The source was identified as "inefficient burning of a
variety of bio fuels during cooking and other domestic use". "Long distance
trans-boundary movement of pollution is well-known though the intra-regional movement is
still not all that well understood… however it is quite possible," said air
pollution researcher Anumita Roy Choudhury of the Centre of Science and Environment.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 31/1/2005
Kochi: Air pollution in city asks for a
gas mask: It is one of the things Kochi is clueless about - air pollution. Even
as emissions from thousands of vehicles and neighbouring industries blacken the city sky,
there is no clear idea about the rate of pollution and its effect on people's health.
Though the city is emerging as one of the most technically savvy cities in the country,
its air quality cannot be labelled as the best. According to the data available with the
Central Pollution Control Board, Kochi is one of the most polluted cities in the country
with high total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) and critical respirable particulate
matter (RPM), the two factors that prove the high toxicity of air.
Source: The New Indian Express, Kochi, 25/1/2005
Kolkata: Talk of clearing air: Suggestions never stopped
flowing - on how to check auto emission in the city - but there was no one from the
government or the police to weigh their implications. The occasion was a panel discussion,
Meeting Auto Emission Norms - Emerging Issues & Challenges Before the State, organised
jointly by The Telegraph and Millennium Institute of Energy & Environment Management
(MIEEM) on Wednesday. It was attended by, among others, automobile expert S.M. Ghosh,
environment activist Subhas Dutta, state pollution control board's P.K. Roy and
representatives from Indian Oil and Hindustan Motors.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 20/1/2005
New Delhi reaps results in drive against diesel pollution: India sprawling
capital has added more than a million private vehicles sine 1998 and is expanding at more
than 200,000 a year. And yet, over the same period, New Delhi's air pollution level- or
the respirable suspended particulate matter - has not risen at all. Against al the odds, a
group of activists in the city over came opposition from public bus owners, state-owned
oil companies and politicians to persuade India's Supreme Court to force the city's
diesel-spewing public transport vehicles to switch to compressed natural gas (CNG). Sunita
Narain, head of the Centre for Science and Environment, a non-government organisation that
helped to persuade the courts to deliver a series of landmark rulings in the last six
years, says the experiment is already more than justified by the results. New Delhi air
pollution would be 30 per cent higher now but for the introduction of CNG, she estimates.
Source: Financial Times, London, 17/1/2005
Air pollution affecting Imphal city: Manipur government led by the Chief
Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has turned a blind eye towards air pollution that is adversely
affecting Imphal city. The level of air pollution at Imphal has been escalating with the
rapid increase in the number of vehicles on the roads as the total number of vehicles
registered at the Manipur Transport Department in December last year stood at over 1.2
lakh. But the number of vehicles that had undergone Auto Exhaust Emission Test under the
auspicious of the Manipur Pollution Control Board during the period from September to
December last stood only at 2500. "Out of these only 2000 vehicles including two and
three wheelers had been given the clearance", Secretary of Manipur Pollution Control
Board, said.
Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, 10/1/2005
Delhi: ‘City air cleaner’: Pollution figures confirm what Delhiites
already knew. Thanks to Metro and CNG-driven public transport, city air is cleaner than
last year. Compared to the Capital’s Ambient Air Quality data of 2003, last
year’s data has shown a significant reduction in pollution level. The concentrations
of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM)
have fallen by five and 16 per cent respectively in 2004 as compared to 2003. Sulphur
dioxide level has also dropped by five per cent.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 16/1/2005
Faridabad reels under pollution: Despite the Punjab and Haryana High Court order
to control the rising level of air and noise pollution, Faridabad is yet to regulate
movement of school buses, identify no-overtaking zones, provide zebra crossings on all
roads, remove encroachments including the neon-light signs and the advertisements boards.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 12/1/2005
Delhi: Haze: Almost two years after the Capital's bus and auto fleet switched to
CNG, latest figures show Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) levels have dropped considerably. However,
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels have begun to rise while SPM and PM10 levels remain
critically high. A steep increase in the number of vehicles, poor pollution checks and a
transport policy that's still evolving has scripted this depressing story. For Central
Pollution Control Board, 80 microgram per cubic metre is the 'Standard' level of NO2 but
the Capital's air had an average of 98 microgram per cubic metre in November last year.
''There are numerous reasons for the rise in NO2 levels, like poor maintenance of CNG
vehicles which increases NO2 emissions and also emissions from power plants,'' says
Anumita Roychowdhury, associate director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). ''Most
worrying is the unchecked increase of private vehicles.''
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 11/1/2005
Kolkata: Buddha in pollution cry: The West Bengal chief minister called upon
students and researchers of Jadavpur University to lay emphasis on creating technology
that can help combat pollution in Calcutta. 'Polluting is increasing at an alarming rate.
We need new technology to save our city. Try to concentrate your research in the field of
pollution', Buddhadeb Bhattacharje said while inaugurating a yearlong programme to
celebrate the university's 50th anniversary.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 1/1/2005
Mere CNG doesn't check pollution: CPCB: Delhi's air has been no remarkable
reduction in pollutants despite the introduction of compressed natural gas about two years
ago. And the number of people complaining of respiratory ailments is constantly on the
rise. The increased level of nitrogen dioxide in air is attributable to the increase in
the number of vehicles and industrial units emissions, according to Anumita Roychowdhury,
Associate Director, Centre For Science and Environment.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 3, 2/19/2005
Traffic pollution may dull Surat's glitter: Two trucks were seized by the
district supplies office and 47 barrels of petroleum products and goods worth Rs 22 lakh
seized at Palsana in Surat. In fact, in the recent past solvents like naphtha and kerosene
have been seized. This is a grim reminder that these products have become a substitute not
only for autorickshaws, but also for two-wheelers. Never mind it breeds pollution. No
wonder then, that the city that boasted of maintaining a certain degree of purity in the
air, might fast lose its freshness.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 4, 2/13/2005
If only promises could curb pollution: The Gujarat government seems to be in no
hurry to rid Ahmedabad of its embarrassing distinction of being among the heavily polluted
cities in the country. Only that can explain the lack of seriousness in meeting the
deadline of March 31 to implement pollution control measures prescribed by the supreme
Court-appointed Bhurelal Committee.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 6/3/2005
^Top
| Fuel and vehicle
technology |
New-look Maruti 800 to cost more; Euro III version
being rolled out: Passenger cars market leader, Maruti Udyog Ltd, has announced that
it is raising the price of its volume-driving model - Maruti 800 - after effecting design
changes to it. The company has raised the prices of the Euro-II compliant version of the
800-cc car by Rs 3,000 to Rs 2,08,678 (standard). It also announced that it is in the
process of rolling out its Euro-III compliant variant of Maruti 800 and it would be
available across the country in the next ten days. The Euro-III version comes at a higher
price of Rs 2,14,678 and is geared to meet the Euro III emission norms being introduced
from April 1 across 11 major cities.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 26/1/2005
Fuel rules may crimp India carmakers: Starting April 1, India’s oil
refiners have to sell diesel and gasoline with fewer pollutants to improve air quality.
Indian Oil, the nation’s biggest refiner, has asked the Oil Ministry to delay the new
rules by six months, the finance director, P. Sugavanam, said. Failure to supply the
cleaner products would hurt Indian carmakers like Maruti Udyog, a unit of Suzuki Motor,
which have invested 250 billion rupees, or $5.7 billion, in engines that run only on the
new fuels. Under the new rules, refiners have to sell so-called Euro-III diesel with less
sulphur and gasoline with less benzene in 11 cities; and Euro-II fuels across the rest of
the country.
Source: International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, 19/1/2005
Uttar Pradesh: Registration of Euro-II, III vehicles from April 1: From April 1,
2005, the Regional Transport Authorities will provide registration only to Euro-II
standard two and three wheelers and Euro-III for cars. Eleven CNG centre will be opened in
Kanpur city for those cars, which run on CNG. Conversion kits can convert the existing
petrol cars to run on CNG and the cost works out to Rs 30,000, which will save over 40% of
the cost, which comes on the use of petrol.
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 11/1/2005
Euro 3 drives wedge in motown: It’s the most hotly debated topic in Motown
since the FTA fracas last fiscal year. Carmakers are divided over the cost of migrating to
Euro 3 technology and the impact of the price mark-up on demand growth. While some like
Maruti MD Jagdish Khattar feel that the Euro 3 migration combined with increase in input
costs would hit demand, others like Hyundai India president BVR Subbu feel that the cost
of upgrading to Euro 3, particularly in compact cars like the Santro, is not more than Rs
3,000-4,000. Maruti has already announced Euro 3 variants for the WagonR, Zen and Baleno
at Rs 10,000-15,000 mark up earlier this month. Other volume carmakers are yet to roll out
Euro3 models.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 19/1/2005
Refineries need to clean up operations: 'The economics and configuration of the
old refineries just do not hold up any more and they must be replaced', says Viadhyanathan
Raghuraman, an energy adviser at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which
represents Indian businesses. Raghunath Mashelkar, scientific adviser to the government
and the report's author, says refineries need 'substantial capital funding' to upgrade or
overhaul processes to meet global standards on quality petrol and diesel fuels. Dr
Mashelkar's report says that about Rs 300bn in investment is needed to fund the upgrading
implied by car fuel specifications in Euro -IV emission norms, which come into force in
2010 in selected Indian cities.
Source: Financial Times, London, 17/1/2005
Oil firms asked to meet April 1 deadline for clean fuel: Fearing slip page in
the April 1 deadline for introduction of ultra-low sulphur auto fuels, the government has
put oil companies on notice, asking them to ensure the deadline is met at all cost.
"We have asked oil companies to ensure that the deadline for introduction of Euro-III
emission norm-compliant petrol and diesel in 11 metro cities and Euro-II grade fuels in
the rest of the country by April 1 is met in its strictest sense," petroleum
secretary SC Tripathi said. The oil companies, he said, had given an undertaking for
introduction of the clean fuel programme to the Supreme Court and "it is now their
duty to ensure it is met."
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 15/1/2005
Implementation of fuel emission norms may not be possible by deadline: Plans for
implementation of the Bharat Stage III norms for fuel emission levels in 11 cities across
the country, and migration of the other cities to Bharat Stage II from April 1, appear
headed for rough weather. While the auto industry appears prepared to meet the deadline,
the snag is in the inability of domestic oil refineries to cater to the expected demand of
the high quality petrol and diesel required to implement these norms for motor vehicles.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 14/1/2005
Cars set to cost more from April 1: Indian car manufacturers are set to hike
their car prices by 5 to 8 per cent from April 1 onwards after tough emission norms called
Bharat 3 comes into effect from the same day in 11 cities. While Maruti Udyog was the
first to announce the Rs 15,000 a car hike, others Hyundai and Tata Motors are also
planning a similar move. A Tata Motors official said the car price hike is inevitable
considering the rise in inputs costs as well as up gradation of technology to meet the new
emission norms. Others like Fiat and General Motors say they will follow the industry
trend. Bharat 3 models are remodified engines to reduce emission levels along the lines of
Euro 3 norms.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 12/1/2005
Oil PSUs trapped in green channel: At least four states and the National Capital
Region are likely to miss their April deadline for graduating to greener motor fuels,
state owned oil-marketing companies said the government last week. Eleven cities are
scheduled to shift to Euro- III and the rest of the country to Euro- II from April 1.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 11/1/2005
Carburettors in cars will be history from April 1: With Euro II (Bharat Stage
II) emission norms becoming applicable from April 1 this year for motor vehicles all over
the country, carburettor technology in passenger cars would become obsolete. For Euro II
and Euro III standard vehicles, the multi point fuel injection (MPFI) system is almost a
norm as it enables better fuel efficiency and lower emissions. With an estimated
production capacity of 730,000 units per annum and nine major players, the carburettor
industry is now on the lookout for new avenues to survive and flourish.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 11/1/2005
MUL launches costlier Euro III models: After the price hike of Rs 2000-3000 on
its existing Euro II models, car market leader Maruti has launched Euro III variants of
three models (Zen, WagonR and Baleno) at a tag increase of Rs 10,000-15,000. Speaking on
the sidelines of a SIAM safety conference, Maruti MD Jagdish Khattar said: We are
introducing Euro III variants of our models in phases going up to April. The price
increase is due to higher cost of raw materials, technology up gradation to Euro III
levels and more expensive components. The Euro III norms come into effect from April 1,
2005 in 11 Indian cities, namely NCR, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore,
Hyderabad & Secunderabad, Kanpur, Pune, Agra and Surat. Till then both Euro II and
Euro III variants of the Zen, WagonR and Baleno will be available in these cities.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 7/1/2005
Refineries in Euro-III tangle: The entry on new players in petroleum marketing
has raised a lot of excitement, but both old and new refineries have been caught on the
wrong foot on the issue of production of Euro-III fuel. Oil refiners and the ministry had
promised the Supreme Court that by April 1, 2005, Euro-III fuel would be sold in Delhi,
Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Kanpur and Agra,
and Euro-II fuel in the rest of the country.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 10/2/2005
'Cheap sensors in new cars add to pollution': A few months after Euro-II
pollution norms came into effect, auto-manufacturers may have more work headed their way.
Speaking to reporters at the Centre for Science and Environment, Environment Pollution
Control Authority (EPCA) member Sunita Narain said the Authority may resort to specifying
the pollutant proportion for new vehicles, in addition to their quantity. ''Till now, we
have measured only gross quantity of gases like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc.
This seems to have given manufacturers a licence to use sub-standard parts in their fuel
ignition systems, which has resulted in needless added pollution due to malfunctioning
multi-point-fuel-injection systems. We are likely to make the right proportion of
pollutants an additional criteria for PUC certification in Delhi,'' she said.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 11/2/2005
Fuel for thought: Euro-III norms impel petrol, diesel imports after 4 years:
India has begun importing petrol and diesel after a hiatus of four years. The country has
been in a surplus position on petroleum products. However, the new Euro III emission norms
that come into effect from April 1, have forced oil companies to import petrol and diesel
with low sulphur and benzene content. The companies have begun building a buffer stock
with imports of about 180,000 tonnes of diesel in January and February. A similar amount
is expected to be imported in the next two months.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 11/2/2005
IIT develops bio-diesel engine for car: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),
Delhi, announced that it has developed a passenger car engine, which will run on
bio-diesel fuel, and said it plans to have some arrangements with Tatas in near future for
furtherance of its project. IIT Delhi is looking for some arrangements with Tatas in near
future so that by the time bio-diesel fuel is made available for the mass.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 16/2/2005
Refineries miss deadline, brakes on green fuel: The roadmap for introducing
green auto fuels has hit a roadblock with refineries failing to produce them in time to
meet the countrywide deadline of April 1. Though they were informed of the deadline as
early as February 2002, last month, the oil industry finally accepted that it would not be
able to market extra-low sulphur Bharat Stage II diesel in key consuming states even after
imports. Punjab, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, J-K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal,
Madhya Pradesh and Goa - which would miss the deadline - are likely to be supplied from
August. Even in the case of BS III diesel, only half the targeted 11 cities would sell the
product. The National Capital Region, Agra, Kanpur, Surat, Ahmedabad and Pune are expected
to get BS III diesel from June.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 19/2/2005
Govt may apply brakes on Euro 3: Cleaner cars may be ready to vroom but there
isn't enough clean fuel to go around. Result: The move to the next level of emission
standards may get pushed back by at least six months. According to sources in the
industry, the ministry of petroleum has initiated moves to push back the migration to the
new emission levels till September-October and has informed the ministry of environment
about the supply crunch involving Euro2 fuel. While 11 metros are moving from Euro2 to
Euro3, the bigger change due this April is the migration of the rest of the country from
Euro1 to Euro2.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 25/2/2005
Govt may seek 6 month extension on clean fuels: The government's plan to
introduce clean fuels in the country may be derailed, although partially. While the April
1, 2005 deadline on the Euro III standards in the four metros in both petrol and diesel
seem to be on track, the same deadline for Bharat II in diesel in some parts of the
countries might not be met. However, the Bharat II deadline for petrol seems to be on
course. A senior official in the petroleum ministry said the ministry plans to seek an
extension of around six months on Bharat II diesel. While the oil firms are in a position
to supply low sulphur petrol to meet Bharat II standards in all parts of the country by
April, they will be unable to do so in the case of diesel.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 2/3/2005
Caution! Speed-breaker ahead: Time's fast running out for diesel car cos. With
Euro III norms coming into force from next month, manufacturers are stepping on the gas to
make their models compliant with the new standards. Diesel-run cars seem to have hit a
bump this time round. They are set to be the biggest casualty of the stricter emission
norms (Euro III) coming into force from April '05. Some of the diesel models likely to be
affected are the Maruti Zen, Esteem and Ford Ikon. From April 1, '05, diesel cars not
complying with Euro III norms cannot be sold in certain markets. Hence, carmakers are
resorting to new technologies like common rail direct injection (CRDi) to make cars comply
with these stricter norms.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 5/3/2005
New gadget for purifying air inside vehicles: Vichitra Technologies has come out
with an instrument that cleans up air inside cars. The gadget, called E-Air, creates
negatively charged ions. These ions neutralise the positively charged suspended particles
in the air. With a start-up voltage of 12 volts, E-Air consumes less than 20 milliamps of
current and produces a negatively charged ionic field continuously. As a result, all the
allergy causing bacteria and hostile suspended particles in the air are rendered inactive,
says a release from the company. In a vehicle, passengers could be thus protected against
asthma attacks, dust allergy and blocked sinus during travel.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 6/3/2005
Auto industry worried that new vehicle norms deadline may change: The domestic
automobile industry’s rendezvous with April’s new vehicle norms is turning out
to be truly worrisome with the oil industry unable to supply higher grade diesel by the
switchover deadline and manufacturers already into making vehicles that run on the
improved fuel. Should the deadline be postponed, it could impose severe difficulties on
manufacturers, particularly, inventory pile up. As known, 11 major cities are set to
graduate from the existing Bharat Stage (BS)-II emission norms to BS-III while the rest of
the country will move up from BS-I to BS-II. Stricter norms for vehicular noise and safety
also come into force. Given the rise in raw material cost and additional cost from
complying with the norms of April 1, fiscal 2006 will be one of price revision.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 9/3/2005
SIAM seeks clarity on emission norms: The society of Indian Automobile
Manufacturers asked requested the ministry of surface transport to send a clarification to
the transport commissioners of all states that vehicles that conform to Bharat Stage -II
norms produced on or before March 31 could be sold in 12 designated cities. However
vehicles that would be sold in the 12 cities, but manufactured on or after April 1, 2005
would have to tbe BS-III complaint. The BS-III norms seek to bring down the sulphur
content in vehicular emissions, thus bringing down the pollution levels in the 12 cities.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 10/3/2005
Tamil Nadu set to meet deadline for supply of cleaner fuels: Tamil Nadu is
comfortably placed to meet the Centre’s April 1 deadline for the supply of cleaner
auto fuels thanks to the work undertaken at the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited
(CPCL) refinery at Manali. "We are in a position to meet Chennai’s requirement
of about one million tonnes of diesel and 0.8 million tonnes of petrol, conforming to the
Euro-III (emission) norms," said S.V. Narasimhan, Managing Director of CPCL, a group
company of Indian Oil Corporation. For the rest of the State, petrol and diesel adhering
to the Bharat Stage-II norms is to be supplied. CPCL is one of the few refineries to have
put in place a process to produce fuels as per the recommendations of the national auto
fuel policy to cut vehicular emissions.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 14/3/2005
`Deadline for Euro-III fuels will be met in 11 cities`: The country is right on
track to meet the April 1 deadline for supply of petrol and diesel conforming to the
Euro-III (emission) norms in 11 cities and petrol meeting the Bharat Stage-II standards
elsewhere. The deadline for supplying diesel, conforming to the BS-II norms, however, will
not be met by five States and a Union Territory. There will be an absolute compliance with
the Euro-III petrol and diesel norms in 11 polluted cities and petrol meeting the BS-II
standards in the rest of the country, M.S. Srinivasan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas, has said.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 21/3/2005
^Top
| Alternative Fuels
and Technology |
CNG/LPG
Haryana mulls private option on CNG supply: Besides the Government company Indraprastha
Gas Ltd as the proposed sole supplier of CNG in Faridabad and Gurgaon, the Haryana
government said it was also considering proposals from private enterprises. Phasing out of
vehicles in the NCR, it has been stated, will only take place, once there is firm
assurance of adequate supply of gas. Saying this before the Supreme court, the State
Transport Controller, Haryana, said besides IGL, private companies like Gujarat Adani
Energy Ltd and Haryana City Gas Distributors Ltd have also come up with proposals on
providing gas distribution.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/2/2005
Delhi: Commercial 3-wheelers get green diktat, must run on CNG: The smoke emanating
rickety three-wheelers that dot the landscape of Delhi as commercial carriages will soon
be history. Delhi has asked all such three-wheelers to switch to CNG as well. The
government has also decided that now only CNG based three wheelers will be registered in
Delhi. Alarmed at the rising pollution levels of the city, the transport department issued
a notification last week making it mandatory for all three-wheeler commercial carriages to
run on CNG.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 8/2/2005
Green fuel to be top priority by 2025: study: Natural gas is expected to emerge
as the most preferred fuel by 2025, according to a paper prepared by the Federation of
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and the Gail (India) Ltd. In India,
healthy economic growth is likely to drive gas demand at a compound annual growth rate of
5.5% in the next 20 years, it points out. The paper highlights the need for a regulatory
framework. The regulator would promote investment in pipeline networks and help set up a
national gas grid, it says.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 7/2/2005
Delhi: CNG might be reason for NO2: An analysis of Central Pollution Control
Board data has revealed that areas like Siri Fort, Janakpuri and Nizamuddin have witnessed
a considerable increase in the level of suspended particulate matter. Experts say that the
increase in the SPM level is dangerous for the respiratory system. According to the data
areas around Siri Fort have witnessed a decisive increase in the SPM level over the years,
Whereas the SPM level was 281 micrograms per cubic meter in the year 2003, now it has
increase to 344.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 6/2/2005
Has CNG increased NO2 content in air? The concentration of nitrogen dioxide, a
harmful pollutant, has been rising in the capital's air. The data available with the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from 2001 onwards shows that though within the
permissible limit, the level of NO2 has been on the rise and the upward trend continues.
CPCB points at the shift to compressed natural gas, the "clean and green fuel"
as one of the possible reasons for the upward trend in the concentration of NO2 in the
city's air. A comparison of last year's data with that of 2003 shows that, on an average,
there was an increase of seven percent in the level of nitrogen dioxide at locations where
the air quality was tested in 2004. Last year's data shows that NO2 levels hovered around
48 micrograms per cubic metre on an average. As against this, the nitrogen dioxide levels
in 2003 averaged at 45 micrograms. In 2002, the average was 39 and in the year before that
it was 34. As per the air quality standards, the level of nitrogen dioxide should be 60
micrograms per cubic metre.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 3/2/2005
AMTS plans to ply 900 CNG buses by October: The AMTS transport manager presented
a Rs 171.66 crore budget for 2005-06 before the transport committee. It will be presented
before the standing committee next week. The AMTS aims to ply close to 400 new CNG buses
and 165 mini buses by April, and another 500 CNG buses by October.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 20/1/2005
UP for ‘unified’ gas policy: Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development
Corporation has been asked to prepare a ‘unified policy’ for ensuring proper
utilisation and supply of gas for industrial, transport and domestic use. The corporation
has been asked to prepare a plan by studying the pattern followed in Gujarat, Haryana,
Rajasthan and other CNG-using states and present it to the Government at the earliest in
order to help the state attract capital investment by the private sector.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 24/1/2005
Noida gets 2 CNG stations: Noida has become Uttar Pradesh's first city to get
compressed natural gas (CNG) filling facilities. Two such facilities were launched
recently in sector 12 and 95. The outlets set up by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), are
part of a plan to set up a total of 20 CNG stations. While three stations are slated to
come up Greater Noida, Noida will get three more in addition to the ones launched now.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 21/1/2005
CNG: Panel on VAT hopeful of sorting out contentious issues: The Empowered
Committee of State Finance Ministers on value-added tax (VAT) is hopeful of sorting out
issues relating to levy of an appropriate VAT rate for compressed natural gas (CNG). The
VAT rate on CNG has been a bone of contention between States, especially those that share
borders like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh Government is looking to allow
usage of CNG in certain cities of the State. It apprehends that trade may get diverted to
Delhi if the latter were to exempt CNG from VAT. Further, there is also the apprehension
that adoption of CNG may lead to dip in diesel consumption, thereby resulting in revenue
loss for Uttar Pradesh if it were to match the VAT rate that is being adopted by Delhi on
CNG.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 20/1/2005
CNG kits for autos, buses in Bangalore: Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister
Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli said the Government would consider making CNG kits mandatory for
auto rickshaws and buses to control pollution in Bangalore. Nagamarapalli told reporters
that due to high vehicle density, pollution levels were mounting with auto rickshaws,
lorries and buses being the main culprits.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 6/1/2005
Narain warns of action if CNG targets not met by March 31: Member of the Bhure
Lal Committee, Sunita Narain warned of punitive action if the targets for conversion of
buses and autorickshaws to CNG-run vehicles, was not achieved by March 31. Narain, who is
also director of the Centre for Science and Environment and was recently awarded the Padma
Shri, was in Ahmedabad to meet the Ahmedabad's Initiative for Reduction (in Pollution)
(AIR), as member of the Bhure Lal Committee appointed by the Supreme Court.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 3/2/2005
GSRTC's CNG bus makes a debut run: The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation
(GSRTC) unveiled its first CNG bus that will run between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. Chief
Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the bus at a function held at Gandhinagar's main bus
station. Officials said that owing to the fact that Ahmedabad is rates as the most
polluted city in the country, the introduction of CNG buses will greatly help in reducing
vehicular pollution.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 22/2/2005
Service tax on gas transportation may jack up CNG, PNG prices: With the decision
to levy 10 percent service tax (ST) on gas transportation in the Union Budget prices of
compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) are expected to rise as the gas
carriers would charge the ST to the buyers who would in turn pass the additional cost to
the end users. A hike in the price of natural gas is the expected to hit industries,
mainly power and fertilisers, which are bulk buyers.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 12, 3/3/2005
Gail-IOC to supply gas in Agra: Gail India will soon enter into a joint venture
with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to establish an entity to supply compressed natural gas
(CNG) to Agra, and to 10 other major towns of Uttar Pradesh.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 11/3/2005
Nearly 1 lakh LPG 'bombs' ticking on Capital's roads: LPG is a good alternative.
It means more kms, reduces air pollution. But guard against ill-fitted kits. Major cause
of concern is that most Maruti vans in city schools use illegal LPG kits. Centre for
Science and Environment Associate Director Anumita Roychowdhury says, ‘‘the
three dispensers that supply auto-LPG get only one or two customers a day.'' An illegal
LPG kit is easily available in the market. It costs anywhere between Rs 6,000 and Rs
10,000. It is quite cheaper as compared to CNG kits, which cost over Rs 30,000. Authorised
LPG kits are priced quite high - they are in the same bracket as CNG.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 22/3/2005
^Top
‘Green petrol may be soon a reality’: ‘Green Petrol’ can now be
available in Punjab, Haryana, U.P. and Chandigarh besides ten other states and Union
territories provided the price is right and there are enough stocks. A government order
was issued last October but to ensure the orders are implemented the Centre has just
constituted an inter-ministerial task force to look at ways of Ethanol blended petrol
programme off the ground.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 7/2/2005
Ethanol blending in petrol: taskforce set up: The government has constituted a
task force to go into implementation of the mandatory blending of ethanol in petrol after
poor sugarcane crops derailed the programme that was aimed at cutting India's crude oil
import dependency. Poor sugarcane availability had forced the government to notify in
October that sale of blended petrol was mandatory only if ethanol producers could ensure
consistent supply at reasonable prices.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 29/1/2005
Aiyar wants ethanol tenders vetted to fire up bio-fuel plan: All the gods are
finally smiling on the Indian sugar industry. Petroleum minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has
asked national oil companies to kick-start the virtually comatose bio-fuel plan by
processing all pending ethanol tenders in the next three weeks. The Centre had made 5%
ethanol blending mandatory in petrol in nine states and three UTs three years ago. But oil
firms had been dragging their feet.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 18/3/2005
Ethanol-blending to resume; ISMA made nodal agency: The Government has reassured
ethanol producers its long-term commitment to the gasohol-blending programme. The
Government’s move to promote ethanol as a mixed fuel follows the instructions issued
by the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, to oil
companies for finalising the tenders within two to three weeks and resume ethanol
blending. The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has been identified as the nodal
institution for formulating the action plan for promoting ethanol as a mixed fuel.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 22/3/2005
Now bio-diesel from plants: There are six pilot projects to produce bio diesel
from indigenous trees and plants at the sprawling premises of the Industrial Training
Institutes in Assam. The plantation of this fuel-yielding flora will begin in April at the
ITI campuses in Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Silchar, Dibrugarh, North Lakhimpur and Jorhat. Mr PP
Barooah, Director, Employment and Craftsmen Training, told that commercial extraction of
bio diesel would begin two or three years after the plantation. There are 28 ITIs,
including four for women, in the State, each of which stands on an average 45-bigha plot
of land, he said, adding that the vacant land in the ITI premises will be profitably used
for the bio diesel production project.
Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, 12/1/2005
Indian bio-diesel attracts European investors: One of the principal reasons is
that European farmers are being weaned away from subsidies on bio-diesel sources like
rapeseed and new sources can be secured only from countries with large and diversified
oilseed bearing plant base like India. Several Indian companies, like the bio-diesel
project of Hyderabad-based Nandan Bio Matrix, have already well-established business
models in place, offering consultancy to farmers, cultivation support, research and
development (R&D) of clonal technology, processing and extraction, value addition,
manufacturing and marketing, of the product. Nandan is taking up jatropha cultivation on
5,000 acres with prompt buy-back assurance and crop insurance, backed up by a refinery and
extraction unit, C S Jadhav, director-marketing of Nandan. Nandan also grows medicinal
plants on 10,000 acres. Jatropha grows in all environments and has 35 per cent oil content
in its seed. Nandan has tied up with D1 Oils of UK, a leading bio-diesel company with
worldwide operations and star performer on European exchanges.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 5/3/2005
Gujarat flags off bio-diesel buses: Close on the heels of launching buses
running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Gujarat has became the first State in the country
to start a commercial service of buses that run on bio-diesel. Four buses running on
bio-diesel were flagged off at a ceremony in the State Capital by the Union Petroleum and
Panchayati Raj Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar. "Trial runs had been carried out in
Haryana and Maharashtra. Even the Indian Railways had run a Jan Shatabdi on bio-diesel.
But this is the first time that a regular commercial service is being started with
bio-diesel," the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, said.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 14/3/2005
Hydrogen/Electric/alternate technologies
Auto majors betting big on hydrogen: Automobile
majors and oil companies are on a new mission to find alternative energy sources. And the
best bet for this could be hydrogen-based energy sources. In pursuit of alternative energy
sources, the scientific community has identified hydrogen as the best alternative energy
carrier. The technical challenges in achieving this include cost-effective hydrogen
generation, storage, delivery, conversion and application. Following the developments
after India became the co-chair of the international programme on hydrogen energy, which
was signed a few months ago, there is an initiative by the government of India, through
the department of science and technology to conduct direct research on hydrogen storage
materials.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 1/2/2005
KTCL rules out use of alternative fuels: The Kadamba Transport Corporation
Limited (KTCL) is of the opinion that alternative fuels for buses may not be a viable
proposition for public transport in Goa. Considering the low levels of pollution and
already existing eco-friendly transport system in Goa, the Corporation seems uninterested
in looking at other options.
Source: Herald, Panjim, 24/1/2005
Govt panel studying use of alternative fuel for buses: The Central government
recently set up an expert committee to assess if alternative fuels like hydrogen and
electricity can be used for buses. The committee, which has members from the Society of
Indian Automobile Manufacturers, was constituted so that the country does not miss out on
new technologies already being used in other countries, said Ashok Leyland managing
director R Seshasayee. Mumbai will stand to benefit with the introduction of alternative
fuels. "If Indian bus manufacturers produce these buses at affordable rates, we will
definitely buy them," BEST general manager Swadheen Kshatriya said.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 23/1/2005
Electric scooters to be launched in city on Friday: Bangalore City-based
Ekovehicles Private Limited will formally launch its Cosmic I and II models of battery
operated two-wheeler. The vehicles priced at Rs. 25,000 (excluding sales tax of around Rs.
4,000) give a mileage of 50 km per battery charge. The power required to charge the
vehicle once is around one kilo Watt, costing Rs. 3 per charge, said Ekovehicles chairman
Anil Ananthakrishna, addressing the press. This makes the running cost for the Eko-Cosmic
less than 35 paise a km, as against more than a rupee for petrol-driven vehicles, he
added. Also, it has fewer moving parts, which reduces maintenance costs.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 20/1/2005
Reva Electric in second phase of new model evaluation: Infusion of funds from
the US, introduction of new models, increasing distribution network and expanding the
export market is what Reva Electric Car Company (RECC), manufacturer of the electric car
Reva, has chalked out for itself for the next 12 months. The company is collaboration
between the Maini Group and AEV LLC of the US. Mr Chetan Maini, Deputy Chairman, Reva
Electric, told Business Line that the company is in the second phase of evaluation of the
new model. The final product with the new features would be ready in a few months.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 24/1/2005
Prototype hydrogen vehicle from IOC: The prototype of a hydrogen-powered vehicle
is likely to be launched in the next two months by Indian Oil Corporation, the Petroleum
Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, said.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 17/1/2005
India must jump onto the hydrogen energy bandwagon: Expert: A hydrogen-run
motorcycle? A hydrogen tricycle? If these seem implausible theories, you'd be surprised to
know that these vehicles are already being demonstrated in some select states of India.
And all that needs to be done now is to make hydrogen energy viable, making it the pivot
of the country's economy. Shifting from an oil economy to hydrogen economy was also at the
nub of the paper - Towards sustainable energy security and health for all in India in the
21st century - presented by senior advisor to ministry of non-conventional energy sources,
Government of India, S K Chopra at the 92nd session of the Indian Science Congress in
Ahmedabad.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 5/1/2005
^Top
Still no brakes on fumes: Contrary to the
government's claims, the anti-pollution drive in Delhi has still not taken off. Polluting
vehicles continue to zip through the borders and into the city. The transport department
claims that it had problems in constituting teams on the first two days. A senior official
said: 'It will be further intensified'. These claims however were far from reality.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 4/2/2005Delhi: Smoking
vehicles trip the law: Day 2 of the ostensible drive against polluting vehicles. The
drive in which 100 teams of six officials man the roads of Delhi and check vehicles
emanating smoke. The drive that is supposed to be two shifts - 8 am to 2 pm and 3 pm to 9
pm. The drive, which has remained on paper. The Delhi transport minister and department
maintain that the drive is being carried out. Throughout Delhi there were no officials or
team has been deployed.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 3/2/2005
Delhi: Drive against polluting vehicles a non-starter: The much touted drive
announced by the Transport Department of Delhi Government against polluting vehicles
entering the Capital proved to be a non-starter today as the teams supposed to be
"guarding" the 10 boundaries of Delhi and also manning 70 points in other parts
of the Capital remained largely conspicuous by their absence. However, the announcement of
the drive had one positive fall-out -- a large number of vehicles were seen queuing up
outside pollution checking centres of the Transport Department for procuring the Pollution
Under Control certificates without which the department had declared that it would not
allow any vehicle to enter the Capital.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 2/2/2005
Delhi closes its doors to polluters: All polluting vehicles coming to Delhi from
adjoining States will have to pay a Rs 1,000 fine and will be turned back as part of a new
anti-pollution drive being launched by the Delhi Government’s Transport Department
from this Tuesday, February 1.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 1/2/2005
Authorities choke up on polluting auto rickshaws: The ban on mixing kerosene
with petrol to run auto rickshaw is going up in smoke in the Holy city. The rules are
being flouted right under the nose of the district transport and the traffic police
authorities, which admit that they "cannot control the pollution caused by auto
rickshaws`"
Source: The Indian Express, Chandigarh, 6/1/2005
PUC has become an unfamiliar word for Rajkotians: In Saurashtra's principal
city, the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate might as well mean Pollution
Un-Controlled! The PUC certification may be mandatory but vehicles billowing black smoke
and burning sensation in the eyes experienced on Rajkot roads tell a different story. In
fact, getting a PUC certificate can be a daunting task. Drive along and you find only two
boards for PUC certification.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 9/1/2005
Delhi: Now, drive against pollution: The Transport department has decided to
launch a drive against vehicles that emit 'visible smoke'. Transport Commissioner Rajeev
Talwar told that the drive against polluting vehicles would be launched in the first week
of February. "This will be a quarterly drive and we will impose stiff fine on
vehicles emitting visible smoke on the borders of Delhi and several other points in the
city," he said.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 14/1/2005
Delhi: Action plan soon to check vehicle pollution: The increasingly heavy
induction of vehicles on Delhi roads - 400 to 500 on an average every day -- has set alarm
bells ringing with experts calling for measures to check the growing vehicle population.
During the past year, air pollution levels in the Capital have risen alarmingly. The RSPM
levels are higher than the previous year’s average and nitrogen oxide levels too are
exceeding the standards set for the Capital. We are alive to the situation and working on
certain measures that will go a long way in dealing with the rising pollution levels. It
is not that pollution has increased all around the Capital, but there are certain pockets.
The Government would soon come out with a package of reforms for tackling this issue and
everything is being viewed with all the seriousness it requires, the Delhi Chief Minister,
Sheila Dikshit, said.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 13/1/2005
Daily entry: 6500-plus Stopped: less than 50: If you have been wondering that
despite all the initiatives the traffic police and the transport department claim to have
taken, why you still encounter goods-laden trucks and trailers on the roads at night, here
is the reason. Six thousand and five hundred trucks enter or pass through Delhi daily and
of these, only 50 are turned back from the borders. Stating this in its latest report, the
SC-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) said the
matter needed ''urgent attention'' since this was negating the gains from cleaner fuel.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/1/2005
Fight against pollution to shift gears: Faced with flak for slipping on the
pollution control front, the Sheila Dikshit Government is all set to unleash
second-generation reforms to make the Capital’s air cleaner and healthier. From this
coming April 1, all commercial goods carriers up to 7.5 tonnes and below and all
inter-State buses plying in the National Capital Region would have to switch over to the
eco-friendly CNG fuel. Also, all commercial diesel vehicles from other States not destined
for Delhi would be stopped from entering the Capital. It is learnt that the Chief
Minister, Sheila Dikshit, had recently held a high level meeting where it was decided that
the Government should push ahead with such reforms to encourage the use of CNG and make
the public transport system efficient. It was also decided to fix deadlines for
implementation of various goals and put in place a system that would ensure better air
quality in the coming years.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 6/1/2005
Auto industry seeks more time on pollution control tests: Even though the
Environment Pollution (Protection and Control) Authority is pressing for a deadline of May
15 to introduce the Lambda tests as a regulatory norm for in-use petrol vehicles -- to
keep a check on pollution -- the automobile industry is insisting that more
"studies" are needed before the required steps can be taken. Deliberated during
a recent meeting with EPCA, the automobile industry is looking for more time, despite the
fact that the Lambda test has been introduced in most developed countries for several
years now. "Our vehicles today are meeting global standards. They are all Euro II
vehicles. So there is no reason why the Lambda test should not be enforced. Most of the
manufacturers are claiming that they have never regulated Lambda while some of them are
claiming that their vehicles would be naturally meeting the standards," said
environmentalist, Sunita Narain.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 11/2/2005
Tata writes to CM, says target thermal plants not vehicles: The Delhi Government
is doing a rethink on the proposed cess on diesel vehicles, after Tata Motors chairman
Ratan Tata wrote to Dikshit on the cess on diesel vehicles, on behalf of the auto
industry. Following Tata's letter, the CM had a brief discussion with the secretaries of
power, transport and environment. Environment Secretary Naini Jaiseelan said the meeting
studied the feasibility of the points raised by Tata on reduction of pollution levels in
the city. However, environment activists accused Tata of trying to pressurise the
Government. EPC member Sunita Narain said Tata's motive was to have an
"industry-sponsored pollution control strategy".
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 7/3/2005 |
^Top |
| Transportation
and traffic |
|
Hard driving: Autocos step on the gas in Jan:
January turned out to be a fourth-gear month with a range of vehicle makers clocking their
highest-ever sales in the first month of this calendar. The roster includes Maruti,
M&M, GM, Hero Honda and Honda among others. Maruti leads the pack with its
highest-ever monthly tally of 45,300 units in domestic sales. Including exports, the
January pickings are 48,544 units.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 2/2/2005
Mumbai: Rs 9 crore study will ascertain city's future transport needs: Mumbai's
transportation infrastructure has generally followed growth. Now, a comprehensive study
commissioned by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) aims to
reverse the trend - by creating infrastructure anticipating growth. Currently underway,
the study will gauge and cater to the transportation needs in the Mumbai Metropolitan
Region (MMR) by the year 2020 and facilitate planning.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 26/1/2005
15 new flyovers for Ghaziabad by 2007: The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA)
has come up with a major scheme of flyovers for the city. The flyovers may be able to
turnaround the whole chaotic transport situation here. As many as 15 flyovers are expected
to be in sight under three phases of the stipulated plan. "The proposed 15 flyovers
will be completed by the financial year of 2006-2007. They will be built at Canalworth
crossing, Mohan nagar road over bridge, Uttar Pradesh gate on National Highway-24,
Chaudhary More, Meerut T-point, Near Hyundai showroom, from ALT centre to Meerut road over
bridge with increasing the present road width from two lane to six lane," said BK
Jain, executive engineer, GDA.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 2/2/2005
Rally in A'bad to promote cycling: Fitness freaks get ready. A 'bicycle rally'
being organised through a citizen's initiative, will be open for mass participation the
lines of the recent Mumbai Marathon. Being supported by the city police, industry and
profession al associations, it is being organised not just to celebrate health, but also
to promote cycling among citizens of this pollution-ridden congested city of Ahmedabad.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 25/1/2005
Metro awaits Phase II clearance: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is
expected to get approval for its Phase II project by April 2005. After the Delhi
Government approved the Rs 8,000 crore project in principal, it has now been sent to the
Urban Development Ministry (UDM) for its assent. Six more routes and tracks of around 50
km with 45 stations will be added by 2008. "Though the report did not specify any
time-frame, we hope that the approval would come by April to enable us to complete Phase
II by 2008," said sources at DMRC.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 30/1/2005
Finally, hope for HCBS: In a move to put an almost-derailed Delhi government
project back on the rails, approval to set up a corporation for high-capacity buses and
electric trolley buses is being sought. Sources said the transport department has moved a
confidential note for the Delhi Cabinet's approval. The note has asked for creation of a
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to implement these two high-end transport systems.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 1supp, 1/22/2005
Diesel passenger car segment gets crowded: Tougher days are ahead for Tata
Motors and its passenger car Tata Indica going by the action in the diesel passenger car
market. The first possible blow would come in the form of Hyundai's diesel fired Santro,
which the Korean auto major is expected to launch this year. The Indica has been a volume
grosser for Tata Motors with a majority of the sales coming from the diesel segment. Now
Hyundai is gearing up to launch a 1.1 litre CRDi version of its best seller, Santro. What
seems to be causing the delay in launch is the pricing issue. CRDi is an expensive
technology and the Santro with CRDi engine has to be priced along with the B+ offering
Getz, which the company does not want to do at this stage.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 18/1/2005
MCD planning to make parking costlier to cash in on auto boom: MCD planning to
make parking costlier to cash in on auto boo Driving the car has been made expensive due
to continuous fuel price hike and owning it has been made costly by the Delhi government
after imposition of ad-valorem tax. If that is not enough, now even parking the damn
vehicles will be dearer, with MCD planning to introduce free price mechanism for its new
parking lot. Civic agencies are now contemplating doing away with subsidised parking lots
and allow private players to fix parking rates will only make cars a luxury.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 16/1/2005
Draft masterplan has eyes set on decongestion: Worried over the continuosly
increasing congestion in the Capital, the Delhi government is looking at alternative
routes. The draft Masterplan has proposed that some additional and alternative links and
access corridors be identified to ease congestion on existing roads. The Masterplan has
also suggested that all options be considered, subject to feasibility for decongestion. It
has listed laying new roads above and along drains, elevated roads and even underground
roads. The Public Works Department has already identified certain stretches where 'Urban
Relief Roads' can be provided.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 3supp, 2/11/2005
Delhi: CM gives green light to monorail: After flyovers and high capacity buses,
the latest technology to have caught the imagination of Delhi's policy makers is monorail.
The Delhi government has given in principle approval to the project that is increasingly
being seen as a complementing technology to Metro. Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit
gave the project her nod saying: 'This is the future'. Monorail has been touted as an
eco-friendly and global transportation system that can be installed in one -third the time
of a Metro and cost at least 50% less.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 2, 2/11/2005
Parking problems: Govt seeks time: The Delhi Government has decided to seek more
time from the Supreme Court for formulating the parking policy in the Capital. Meanwhile,
a high level committee was constituted on Friday in this regard. Despite the Supreme
Court’s deadline, both New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Municipal Corporation
of Delhi (MCD) have failed to frame the guidelines for the parking policy. Acting on a
suggestion given by the Environment and Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), the Supreme
Court had granted four months to Delhi Government to submit an action plan on the parking
policy for the Capital. Chief Secretary S Reghunathan has chaired a meeting with officials
of the DDA, NDMC, Transport and Urban Development and urged them to put their suggestions
regarding parking.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 19/2/2005
More vehicles, but less space on roads: The ratio of vehicles to road length is
on the rise in Delhi and with roads already occupying 21 percent of the capital’s
area, there is limited potential for more roads in Delhi. Delhi, which lags behind Kolkata
and Mumbai in terms of public transport, needs to improve upon this aspect to check the
rapidly increasing numbers of private vehicles on its roads. A World Bank study conducted
on the percentage distribution of urban trips in selected Indian cities, including, Delhi
in 2002 showed that while Kolkata led in public transport trips (65 percent), Mumbai
counted for about 60 percent of such trips.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 25/2/2005
FM gives green signal to B'lore Metro project: The ambitious Metro rail project
in Bangalore may finally take off, with the finance minister announcing a monetary package
for the same in his Budget. K.N. Shrivastava, MD, Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Ltd
(BMRTL), said initially the government was suppose to fund about Rs 100 crore for the year
2005-06 for this project. "Now they have said they can increase the amount. We are
giving a new proposal for asking Rs 200 crore for this project in this year," he
said. This long-pending project is expected to get the clearance from the Centre by
mid-March and the construction is expected to start from first week of May.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 12, 3/2/2005
Reason to breathe easy; metro rail is on the way: With the proposed Bangalore
Metro Rail project getting a green signal from the Centre and the State Governments,
travelling on city roads is expected to become little more safe and fast. The massive Rs.
6,300-crore five-year project would make commuting more convenient, lessen pressure on the
city's transportation system and would reduce congestion, accidents and vehicular
pollution that has reached alarming levels. According to a study, the metro rail will
result in savings of at least Rs. 1,000 crore in terms of reduction of traffic congestion,
fuel consumption, maintenance of roads, savings in travel time and pollution levels.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 8/3/2005
Metrail proposes hybrid monorail system in AP: Metrail India, an Anglo-Swiss
consortium, has proposed a hybrid monorail system costing Rs 2,000 crore, to cater to the
growing transport needs of Hyderabad. The consortium members led by Metrail chairman Zafar
Saifullah met Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. Mr Saifullah said that
the company will mobilise finances to set up the most sophisticated mass transport system.
"We do not require government finances nor do we need to acquire land to set up the
system," he said.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 22/3/2005
^Top
| National
and local initiatives |
|
NDMC plans vehicle ban: Once the Metro rolls into Connaught Place, it might mean the
end of the road for other vehicles. As of now, two-wheelers have been banned from the
inner circle but the NDMC is set to go further to ensure the heritage market zone is not
congested. The council is expected to propose to the Urban Development Ministry to clear
the inner and outer circles of vehicular movement. ''The smoke, the vibration has
deteriorated CP, to bring back the glory it is important to free it of vehicular
movement,'' said an NDMC official. The council has already taken up the matter with the
Urban Development Ministry at a meeting.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 6/2/2005
Kolkata: Bar smoke-belchers at the gate: Alarmed at the increase in auto
emission caused by vehicles entering Calcutta from the neighbouring districts and states,
the state government has decided to put up emission check posts at four major entry points
- Kona, Dakshineswar, Barasat and Shalimar. Drivers will have to produce the mandatory
Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates at the checkpoints, which will be manned by
officials of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board, transport department and traffic
police." We will stop vehicles and check the PUC certificate at the entry points.
Drivers who have the certificate will be allowed to proceed. Those without it will have to
pay a spot fine of Rs 1,000 and they won't be allowed to enter the city,'' elaborated
pollution board member-secretary Shyamal Sarkar.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 6/1/2005
ARAI to sign MoU with oil cos to conduct air modelling: To conduct air modelling
of the Pune city, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is signing a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) with leading oil companies in the country. This
one-year-long exercise, which is to begin shortly, would study the amount of air
pollution, the causative agent and steps to bring down the level of pollution. Mr Balraj
Bhanot, President of ARAI, told media persons that the MoU would be signed on January 21
and the study is expected to begin soon. The study will not only look into the emission of
moving vehicles, but also emissions from other off road and static sources such as
cooking, power generators and railways to find out the exact causative agent.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 19/1/2005
Phased ban on 'buses' entry to Margao from Monday: The authorities have decided
to ban the entry of buses into Margao city of Goa state from outskirts in phases,
beginning form January 10, in a bid to tackle the growing traffic problem facing Margao.
The move will affect buses plying from Salcete's oastal belts - from Gavelossim to Majorda
- and the villages of Gurtorim, Guirdolim, and Loutolim.
Source: Herald, Panjim, 6/1/2004
Gujarat: State ordinance to make use of CNG must for 'polluting vehicles': The
Gujarat State government has decided to come up with an ordinance making the use of
compressed natural gas (CNG) compulsory. An official note issued said that the decision
was taken during a cabinet meeting. The ordinance will set the exact date by which
specified polluting vehicles will have to start using the CNG in place of petrol and
diesel.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 8/1/2004
Baalu urges Aiyar to review auto fuel policy roadmap: With oil companies failing
on deadline to market greener fuels, the Ministry for Road Transport and Highways wants an
immediate review of the future roadmap of the Auto Fuel Policy. Road Transport Minister
T.R. Baalu has written to Union Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar to get cracking on
the implementation of Bharat or Euro III and IV petrol and diesel right now, instead of
waiting till 2006. By 2010, oil firms will have to introduce less polluting Bharat Stage
III fuels throughout the country and Bharat IV in 11 metros and cities.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 13/1/2005
KSRTC to phase out old vehicles: Kharge: Irrigation and Transport Minister
Mallikarjuna Kharge has said that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)
would be phasing out old vehicles in the next two years at a cost of Rs. 307 crore.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, Kharge said 33 per cent of the vehicles used by
KSRTC were old and maintenance cost was mounting. The four divisions of KSRTC were
borrowing money to replace these vehicles and improve services to people. The State
Government wants the KSRTC to run in profit and organisation needs to be service oriented,
he added. Besides replacing the vehicle, the State was also contemplating to do away with
hiring buses on contract.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 4/1/2005
Delhi: Pay more tax if vehicles is more than 15 years old: The Delhi government
is planning to double the road tax for two and four wheelers which are more than 15 years
old in the city, sources in the transport department said. Besides, the transport
department has also decided to constitute a "special purpose company" which will
be looking after several projects, including high capacity buses, electronic trolley buses
and other feeder services.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 5/1/2005
Two-day drive against polluting vehicles: The Delhi pollution control committee
will conduct a two-day drive against polluting vehicles in the Capital from tomorrow.
According to senior Delhi government officials, the drive is being conducted to assess the
number of polluting vehicles in the city." We have decided to check these vehicles at
three important points in the city, at Badarpur, Model Town and near ITO.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 10/2/2005
CNG kit made compulsory for autos: In a meeting of the regional transport
authority in Ghaziabad, it has been made compulsory to install a CNG kit in autos within
six months. For Noida, this limit has been fixed for June 5. In the meeting chaired by
Divisional Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, permits for 47 private vehicles were sanctioned,
while 17 permits transferred. Regional Transport Officer Vinay Kumar Singh said that
issuing CNG permits to three-wheelers and transport busses has already been started. Since
in Noida, CNG filling station has started functioning, the time limit for vehicles to get
CNG conversions has been fixed up to June 2005.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 25/2/2005
Bad news for CNG users: So far exempted from tax, compressed natural gas (CNG)
is all set to get in the Value Added Tax (VAT) net. The Government will announce the
"imposition of 20 per cent sales tax on CNG" in its 2005-06 Budget. The sales
tax department has sent in its recommendations to bring CNG in the tax ambit. If CNG is
taxed at 20 per cent, the sales tax department is likely to be richer by almost Rs 150
crore per annum. The tax on CNG will also act as a fillip to the Government’s move to
review bus fares. "Costlier CNG will mean an increase in bus fares. The tax on the
sale of motor parts will also be reviewed," said a senior official.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 27/2/2005
Delhi: 29 multi-parking sites to provide car space: Delhi is to be gifted with
29 multi-parking sites by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) -- all set to add an
additional 21,000 car spaces to the city`s parking tally. Stating this in an affidavit
filed before the Delhi High Court, DDA said that construction activity has not yet begun
on the sites, though the land for this purpose has been set out. Giving details on the
sites, the affidavit stated that out of the total 29 sites, three will be located in the
north zone. Six sites, each measuring six hectares, have been allotted in the south zone
while east zone will have seven in its kitty. In the west zone, seven multi-parking sites
will come up in Dwarka zone while six sites will be developed in Rohini zone, the
affidavit added.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 26/2/2005
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Parking policy: SC seeks action plan in 4
weeks: Expressing dismay over delay in formulation of a policy to ease the parking
blues of vehicle owners in the Capital, the Supreme Court today asked the Delhi Government
to submit within four weeks an action plan in this regard after consulting all concerned.
Appearing for the Delhi government, advocate S.W. Quadri stated that it was the
prerogative of the MCD, NDMC and DDA to evolve a parking policy. The bench, which had
acted on the suggestion of the Environment and Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), took
exception and said it was the duty of the Delhi government to consult these agencies
expeditiously.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 5/2/2005
SC’s watchdog comes down hard on Pune’s filthy air: Of the eight most
polluted cities in the country, Maharashtra’s score is two: Pune and Solapur. And now
the Environment and Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has slapped a deadline of April 30
on all public service agencies to implement the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s
action plan to check growing pollution in the city. On Saturday EPCA chairman Bhure Lal
its member Sunita Narain, and representatives of the Chairman of the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) met official of Pune and Pimpri Chindhwad municipal corporation, RTO,
traffic police, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), coordinator of oil companies
and representatives of various NGO’s.
Source: The Indian Express, Mumbai, 11/1/2005
Ensure emission-checking by all vehicles once in months: court: The Madras High
Court has directed the State and Central transport authorities to effectively implement
Central Motor Vehicles Rules and ensure that all vehicles obtained emission-checking
certificates from designated testing centres once in six months.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 24/12/2004
SC gives green signal to expressway around Delhi: In a first-ever order
concerning creation of an infrastructure project, the Supreme Court today gave the go
ahead for construction of Rs 3,567-crore expressway around Delhi to ease traffic and stop
heavy trucks using it as a transit route for their journey to other states.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 12/2/2005
Bihar government told to file affidavit on pollution caused by vehicles: The
Patna High Court directed the Bihar state government to file an affidavit on pollution
caused by poorly kept vehicles within six weeks.
Source: The Hindustan Times, Patna, 3, 2/11/2005
States skid on deadlines for a green route: The roadmap for decreasing pollution
in eight "critically polluted" cities, it seems, will take longer to be
achieved. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), a Supreme
Court body monitoring pollution in cities, has noted that CNG deadlines won't be met in
many cases. For cleaner air, it suggested the focus be turned to upgrading
"non-existent" transport systems. The EPCA report says Kanpur, Lucknow,
Ahmedabad, Pune, Sholapur and Hyderabad could get natural gas by mid-2006 but Chennai and
Bangalore would get it only after the national gas grid is complete. CNG is to come to
Kanpur, Lucknow and Pune by the second half of 2004 and Sholapur and Hyderabad by second
half of 2006. "However, these deadlines, in most cases are not being adhered to...The
delay is jeopardizing the air pollution programme in these cities. The programme is
dependent on the move to CNG as a clean fuel, combined with upgraded public transport
systems," the report said.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 26/2/2005
SC takes serious note of CNG 'leakage' in buses: The Supreme Court today took
serious view of the media reports about leakage being found in some CNG buses in the
national Capital and sought a report from the Environment Pollution (Prevention and
Control) Authority (EPCA)."It is a serious matter. Some body has to go into it, if
the media reports are correct," a Bench of Mr Justice Y. K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice
Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S. H. Kapadia said. "EPCA is directed to look into the
concern expressed in recent media report about leakage of gas in buses and some other
related safety issues," the Court in its order said, directing the Authority to
submit its report within four weeks. The Court further clarified that the report should
deal with safety aspects in buses and three-wheelers running on the CNG separately,
considering the fact that they were the backbone of public transport in the Capital.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 14/3/2005
SC tells Centre to free CNG from sales tax net: The Supreme Court asked the
Centre, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to find a formula for exempting the CNG fuel form Sales
tax. The states have shown extreme reluctance to take to this non-polluting fuel as the
tax from diesel forms large part of the revenue. Haryana says its revenue form diesel is
Rs 600 crore per year. If CNG is introduced, this income will dry up as the centre’s
could compensate the states in some other way.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 12/3/2005
SC directs Haryana, UP to set up CNG stations in NCR: The Supreme Court today
directed the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Governments to take prompt action for establishing
compressed natural gas (CNG) outlets in their territories falling in the National Capital
Region (NCR) to ensure smooth supply of gas to buses and autos operating on
"pollution-free" fuel in the area. A Bench of Mr Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr
Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S H Kapadia directed Haryana and U P Governments to
render "full cooperation and assistance" to Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL), the sole
supplier of CNG in the country, for setting up of sufficient number of the retail outlets
in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad regions.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 12/3/2005
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Air pollution can lead to cardiovascular diseases:
A new study published in the latest issue of Environmental Health Perspectives has
revealed that long-term exposure to air pollution may lead to the development of
atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a form of cardiovascular disease in which fatty
deposits cause artery walls to thicken and harden. The study adds to the growing body of
literature linking air pollution with cardiovascular disease and provides the first
epidemiological evidence linking atherosclerosis with exposure to fine particulate matter.
The researchers evaluated 798 healthy Los Angeles-area men and women over the age of 40
who showed some signs of increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 2/2/2005
‘Air pollution may lead to many a chronic ailment': Polluted air is a major
environmental health problem and its effects on people are very complex. There are many
different sources of pollution and their individual effects vary. Studies across the world
have shown that the pollutants cause serious health problems especially in children. From
breathing problems and asthma to cancer, the ailments caused by polluted air are many.
Studies carried out in Kochi have shown that one out of every four children in the city
suffers from breathing problems. Doctors feel pollution is the main culprit in this issue.
''Asthma is a common problem among children here. And the rise in the expense of asthma
treatment makes this a very costly problem for the society,'' says Dr Sachidananda Kamath,
paediatrician.
Source: The New Indian Express, Kochi, 27/1/2005
Traffic pollution increases allergic reactions: Reactions between smog and plant
proteins could explain the mysterious increases in allergies. Exhaust fumes from traffic
could be turning airborne proteins into more powerful allergens, explaining why asthma and
other allergies are on the rise in urban areas. Researchers have found that the mixture of
nitrogen dioxide and ozone produced by vehicles can add the chemical group nitrate to the
protein molecules that account for up to 5% of the particles in our air. Medical studies
have shown a link between air pollution and rising allergy rates. But scientists have not
been able to pin down how one causes the other. Nitration is now a prime suspect, says,
Ulrich Pöschl, an atmospheric chemist from the Technical University of Munich, Germany.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 9/2/2005
Pollutants are bad for the baby in the womb: The air you breathe may harm your
baby. Exposure to a common urban air pollutant can cause genetic mutation in a developing
baby and increase the future risk of cancer. A study by New York's Columbia Centre for
Children's Environmental Health has found a 50% increase in the level of genetic
abnormalities in infants born to non-smoking mothers who inhaled polluted air. The
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which was found to be 10 times more toxic for a
baby in the womb than the mother. PAHs are extremely toxic and we've always insisted that
it's critical to monitor them. But we have no standards. PAHs standard for diesel will be
introduced for the first time as part of Euro 3 norms in April 2005 and with that, air
quality should improve," says Sunita Narain, director of Centre for Science and
Environment.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 18/2/2005
Air pollution damages foetal chromosomes: The immediate need to reduce vehicular
emission levels has been brought out by a recent study which found that exposure of
expectant mothers to combustion-related urban air pollution has the potential to alter the
structure of foetus` chromosomes. Sixty newborns were studied before reaching this
conclusion. Experiments done in the past had also found a link between genetic alterations
as a result of urban air pollution and increased risk of leukaemia and other cancers.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 3/3/2005
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CNG prices may go up by 9.76 percent next week: The prices of Compressed Natural
Gas (CNG) are expected to increase by 9.76 percent or Rs2.54 next week. It was reliably
learnt on Tuesday. The decision to this effect is expected to be announced next week by
the Oil and Gas Development Authority (Ogra). The existing price of CNG per kilogram is
Rs26. CNG Station Owners Association of Pakistan chairman Malik Khuda Baksh told Business
Recorder, "we have not increased prices when they gone up and passed the benefit to
our consumers".
Source: Business Recorder (Internet), Pakistan, 2/2/2005
Gas suspension affects 700 CNG stations: The gas crisis due to the suspension in
supply from Sui (Pakistan) has badly affected more than 700 CNG stations throughout the
country. The gas pressure has been reaching to its lowest ebb during 5:00 to 9:00 am and
5:00 to 10:00 pm, adversely affecting functioning of CNG stations which have stopped
filling during the said periods. The domestic consumers and CNG stations situated at the
tail end of pipeline are not getting proper gas pressure in daytime also. The SNGPL has
already suspended gas supply to power stations, fertilizer manufacturers and a number of
industrial units.
Source: The Nation (Internet), Pakistan, 1/18/2005
Plan to check vehicular pollution: The Punjab Environment Protection Department
(Pakistan) and Lahore City District Government, in collaboration with the task force on
Lahore, is evolving an action plan to control vehicular pollution in the provincial
metropolis. The government was keen in taking measures to control air pollution, DCO
Khalid Sultan told Dawn at a seminar on the vehicular pollution. He said the air and noise
pollution, water contamination and solid and municipal sewerage waste disposal were the
major concerns of the government and it would also seek the Lahore High Court’s help
in this regard. The government would finalize the action plan after consulting all
stakeholders, he said.
Source: Dawn (Internet), Pakistan, 11/2/2005
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