Other cities: As metros
clean up their air, look who are proud to be the dirtiest dozen: The good news is: more
and more people in cities are now aware of their environment, public policy is becoming
more responsive to green technology and there are more stringent checks on polluters. The
bad news is this culture isn’t spreading beyond the metros. According to the latest
data published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the worst place to breathe
in the country is Ahmedabad, followed closely by Kanpur, Solapur (Maharashtra) and
Lucknow.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 1, 30/07/2003
Delhi: Rain washed air
pollutants: Experts: The pollution readings for July 13 from 1999 to 2003 carried out
by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) indicate that besides nitrogen oxide, all
pollutants have been showing a downward trend. Sulphur dioxide (SO2), is down from 17 to 4
m g/m3 in the past five years. Carbon monoxide, that could be anywhere from
6,000 to 4,000 m g/m3 is down to 1,887 levels. The rains are like scavengers.
They are nature’s way of using a wet scrubber and just wiping out all the dirt and
either settling it or washing it away. In data collected by CPCB, only NO2 had had an
upward trend and this reflects the impact of increase in traffic volume on the quality of
air. The most harmful of all pollutants- particulate matter- is still higher than the
standard 200 (m g/m3), but its rise has been checked due to the use of cleaner
fuels and better technology.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 4supp, 17/07/2003
Delhi: Catch your
breath, air pollution to go up: Despite various initiatives to bring down pollution
levels in the Capital, experts say the level of pollution will continue to increase in the
next two decades. The Centre for Science and Environment says though cleaner automobiles
may be introduced in the years ahead, the sheer boom in the number of vehicles will ensure
that high levels of pollution are maintained in the Capital. According to the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) the air quality will further deteriorate, and carbon
monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and other noxious chemicals will sustain high levels in
atmosphere, reversing the success achieved in the last decade.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 6, 03/08/2003
Hyderabad choking: CPCB:
The Central Pollution Control Board has shattered the ‘clean and green’ myth
of Hyderabad. According to the latest data published by the CPCB, the city has
"critical levels" of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM). And
it’s not just metros that are gasping for breath. According to the data, Ahmedabad
followed by Kanpur, Solapur and Lucknow are the worst polluting cities while Cochin,
Dehradun, Thiruvanathapuram, Nagpur, and Jaipur have critical levels of RSPM.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 1, 30/07/2003
Kolkata: Small, deadly
and diesel-driven: The smaller the polluting particle, the more potent it is. And
about 70 per cent of the respirable suspended particulate matter in the Calcutta air is
3.3 microns or less. This is small enough to reach the innermost areas of lungs bronchi
and alveoli causing irreparable damage, says a survey. Till now, 10 microns or less has
been the standard index of respirable air pollution. But a recent study carried out by the
West Bengal Pollution Control Board and the Environment Department of Jadavpur University
has lowered the micron count (to 3.3 and less), raised the danger level (from damaging to
deadly) and pinned the pollution blame (on diesel-driven vehicles). A study by Centre for
Science & Environment puts the "death due to pollution" figure at 10,647 for
the year 1995.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, sp1, 14/07/2003
Bangalore: More
pollutants under scanner: So far it was the suspended particulate matter, oxides of
nitrogen and sulphur dioxide that were being tested in the air we breathe. Now the
parameters have increased to include three carcinogenic substances. The Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB), zonal office, Bangalore, will be testing ambient air for levels of
benzene, toluene and xylene from this September.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 1supp, 22/08/2003
Bangalore: Vehicles, not
industries, to blame for pollution: The large number of vehicles emitting noxious
gases like Carbon Monoxide and suspended particulate matter are the main cause of air
pollution in Bangalore city. Industries, which are not present in significant numbers, do
not contribute much to air pollution here, according to Dr D C Sharma, Zonal Officer,
Central Pollution Control Board. Going by the figures given by transport commissioner L M
Vittala Murthy, the city has no less than 18-lakh vehicles.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 15, 18/08/2003
Kochi: Polluting
vehicles make life miserable: Kochi has found a place on the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) list of the worst polluted cities in the country and the credit goes to the
aged vehicles operating on city roads. The recent survey of CPCB has ranked Kochi at 13,
gasping virtually for breath with ‘critical levels’ of Respirable Suspended
Particulate Matter (RSPM), due to pollution by old vehicles. Kerala State Pollution
Control Board (KSPCB) member-secretary Indula said that 27 cities were identified as
pollution hot spots mainly due to the automobile pollution. There are reports of lung
ailments due to the excess emission from vehicles.
Source: The New Indian Express, Kochi, 1supp, 01/08/2003
^Top
| Vehicle technology, fuel quality and emissions
standards |
|
Kolkata: Bengal throws
up hands on pollution: The state government today said it would petition Calcutta High
Court for more time to implement the court’s order to introduce Bharat Stage II (BS
II) norms for motor vehicles to arrest pollution in the city and adjoining areas. Chief
Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today chaired a meeting with transport minister Subhas
Chakraborty, environment minister Manab Mukherjee and advocate general Balai Ray to thrash
out the problem of changing the engines of 15 lakh vehicles to ensure compliance with BS
II norms by April next year- a task considered by the transport minister as "humanly
impossible." The court order prevents vehicles from plying in the Calcutta
Metropolitan Area if they do not conform to the BS II norms by the April 2004 deadline.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 05/07/2003
Kolkata: Transporter
push back Bharat II deadline: Taking cue from the West Bengal state government, the
transport lobby decided to petition Calcutta High Court seeking more time to implement the
court order on the implementation of Bharat Stage II (BS II) norms by next April. After
meeting with transport minister and senior government officials the Chief Minister made it
clear that the government would approach the High Court to seek more time on the
implementation of the BS II norms to check auto emissions. According to members of the
transport lobby, there are scarcely 250 approved garages, which have qualified technicians
and other infrastructure to change engines of vehicles to conform to BS II norms. If one
garage changes engines of five vehicles a day, it will take at least five years to
complete the changeover, the members said.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 9, 06/07/2003
^Top
CNG/LPG/LNG
Bangalore: Centre may allow state to use CNG as fuel: Allum: Environment Minister
Allum Veerabhadrappa informed that Karnataka State may get clearance from the Centre for
using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as fuel for public transport vehicles (PTVs) in
Bangalore city since the Reliance Company is setting up a CNG base in Krishna-Godavari
basin. Disclosing this he said the Ministry of Environment, Government of Karnataka had
sought permission from the Centre for using CNG as fuel for PTVs in Bangalore in the wake
of largescale pollution.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 4, 27/08/2003
Ahmedabad: LPG plans for
rickshaws could clean up air: If Ahmedabad is the most polluted city of the country,
then blame it on vehicular pollution. More than 13.5 lakh vehicles ply on the city roads
emitting toxins in air. The 65,000 autorickshaws definitely take the ‘worst
polluter’ tag. Nearly 80% of toxins that impact the ambient air quality come from
these three-wheelers, it is believed. But, now there seems to be light at the end of the
tunnel. A move is about to switch the three-wheelers to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a
cheaper and non-polluting fuel.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 3, 22/08/2003
Chennai: Government
plans to open 28 dispensing stations in city: The Transport Department has authorised
13 centres in Chennai city to retrofit Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) kits in petrol driven
vehicles, including cars and autorickshaws. Following a Supreme Court directive in May
last year that all government authorities should prepare a scheme containing a time
schedule for supply of CNG/LPG, various departments have begun the process of conversion
to Auto LPG. As a demonstration of the fuel’s application, the Tamil Nadu Pollution
Control Board has converted two of its cars to Auto LPG as part of its campaign against
air pollution.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 3, 23/07/2003
Kanpur: Ban on use of
LPG in vehicles assailed: The Human Rights Association of India has strongly
criticised the decision of the regional transport officer (RTO) in Kanpur to impound
vehicles driven by Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and to cancel their registration and
impose fines on the owners. The RTO has justified the ban on the ground that there was
every possibility of the LPG cylinder bursting resulting in loss of precious lives.
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 3supp, 01/07/2003
Assam: LNG-powered
vehicles soon: Assam will soon witness Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered vehicles
plying on its roads. The pilot project for this mega Rs 10-crore project will start in
September. Disclosing this during the release of a handbook on the performance of the
Industries and Commerce Department during 2001-03, the Industries and Commerce Minister Mr
Bhubaneswar Kalita said that an encouraging number of NRIs have come forward for
investment. The NRIs and the Assam Gas Company and Oil India Limited have signed an
agreement for supplying 15,000 tonnes of gas per annum.
Source: The Sentinel, Guwahati, 29/07/2003
^Top
Green fuels await for
green signal: With the government’s drive to switch over to gasohol - petrol
laced with five per cent ethanol - in nine states moving all too slowly, a report on the
desirability and development of biofuels is scheduled to be handed over to the Prime
Minister on 11th of July. In fact, Vajpayee will be presented two reports coordinated and
prepared by the Planning Commission - one on the development of biofuels and another on
bamboo-centred development. Just a week ago, the oil ministry reported its gasohol
initiative for nine states and four Union territories had moved so slowly it was forced to
extend the deadline for compulsory sale of this fuel by three months, to September 30.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 10, 11/07/2003
Bureaucratic delays
hamper ethanol doping of petrol: Even as the government has passed a notification
making it mandatory to market petrol doped with five per cent ethanol, government-owned
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) is having a problem procuring enough ethanol.
Sources said that the company has set up doping facilities at 39 locations all over the
country but is not able to run them, as there is not enough ethanol. The government had
passed the notification last year allowing ethanol-blended petrol in nine states and four
union territories.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 5, 18/08/2003
Gasohol supply in Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka by mid-August: The oil companies have issued letters of intent to
procure anhydrous alcohol from distilleries in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka for the
manufacture of ethanol-blended petrol, gasohol. This has paved the way for the gasohol
programme taking off by mid-August in these States. The programme is yet to take off in
Tamil Nadu where issues relating to local levies need to be cleared, they said. Gasohol
supply in all the markets in Karnataka and partially in Andhra Pradesh is expected to
commence in mid-August when the formalities including board approvals and issue of
purchase orders by oil companies are likely to be done.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 21, 01/08/2003
Powered by the karanj
tree: Across the country, many initiatives to use bio-diesel as a fuel are currently
underway. In fact, such programmes are being seen as vital to supplement India’s
growing need for fuel. Today, diesel accounts for nearly 80% of the fuel consumed in
India. Last year, India imported 75 million tonnes of the fuel worth Rs 78,000 crore.
Bio-diesel contains no diesel. It is oil extracted from plants (the Karanj tree in
Karnataka, and seeds of the Jatropha bush in Gujarat), which is filtered and refined to
yield fuel.
Source: Business World, Kolkata, 14, 18/08/2003
^Top
Fund proposed for
hydrogen fuel R&D: The petroleum ministry has decided to constitute an
India Hydrogen Corpus Fund, with the contribution from all public sector oil units, to
develop hydrogen as an automobile fuel. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will be the nodal
agency for the fund. IOC has been directed to prepare a roadmap for two years to initiate
work in identified areas such as production of hydrogen, its storage and distribution. The
petroleum ministry has decided to establish an India Hydrogen Congress, with the
involvement of all interested parties. The planning commission has also set up a committee
under its member N K Singh to set out a roadmap for the introduction of hydrogen as an
alternative fuel in the economy.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 15/08/03
Government sets up
national hydrogen energy board: The government has announced the formation of a
National Hydrogen Energy Board (NHEB) for preparing the roadmap for the hydrogen energy
sector, and monitor its implementation in an integrated manner. Announcing the government
decision, minister of non-conventional energy sources (MNES) M Kannappan said this board
would be under MNES.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 4, 13/07/2003
Electric car` goes
patriotic: Patriotic Indians can now zip around in REVA, India’s first Electric
Vehicle available in the tri-colours of the Indian flag. The REVA gives freedom from
pollution, congestion, offers easy maneuverability, runs on battery, with the smallest
turning radius and automatic transmission and gives you freedom from heavy maintenance. It
boasts of the lowest running cost of 40 paise per kilometer! REVA Electric Car Company is
a joint venture between the Maini Group India and Amerigon Electric Vehicle Technology
(AEVT) of Irvindale, California USA.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 9, 15/08/2003
Delhi: Bumpy ride for
Connaught Place (CP) eco-friendly autos: When the NDMC started its ‘Bijlee’
service on January 1 this year (in partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra), it hoped
that within six months, the number of these electric three-wheelers would increase and
benefit two-wheeler drivers plying in CP’s Inner Circle. However, with a crunch in
parking space and the automobile major saying that the project has to be
‘economically viable’ before they increase the fleet of four, Bijlee passengers
will have to wait for the frequent services.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 4supp, 05/07/2003
^Top
Panipat: Unauthorised
vehicles throw pollution norms to the wind: Thanks to the indifferent attitude of the
Panipat District Transport Office and the Pollution Control Department, citizens of the
district are forced to inhale polluted air and poisonous gases emitted by unauthorised and
outdated vehicles plying on roads, including three wheelers, maxicabs, trucks and tractor
trolleys. As a result, there has been an abnormal increase in lung ailments like
bronchitis, asthma and tuberculosis.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, sp2, 03/07/2003
Bangalore:
Anti-pollution drive slackens: Last November, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna
began a war against vehicular pollution by launching a padayatra, which was
followed by a massive drive to book polluting vehicles and educate the masses. But
unfortunately the drive has been very short-lived even as pollution levels continue to
increase at an alarming pace. In fact, last week, the Supreme Court took note of it and
sought to know what steps were being taken by both the Centre and the State governments to
check it.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 4supp, 26/08/2003
New Delhi: New device
for pollution checks: For all those vehicle owners who have managed to hoodwink
pollution checks there is still time to mend ways. The transport department is planning to
set up a ‘remote sensory system’ at busy road junctions that will check the
pollution level of the vehicle, take its photograph and even cut a challan through a
computerised central server.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 4, 16/08/2003
Bangalore: Kick them
out: Old is gold, or so it seems. And in a country where politicians refuse to retire,
the view cannot be reversed. So is the latest effort to banish old vehicles from Bangalore
city streets. Instead of quickly phasing them out, the government continues its flip flop
on the issue. Last week, yet again, the government backtracked on the issue of banning
20-year-old commercial vehicles from plying within the city.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 08/07/2003
Patna: Move to ban
‘above-15’ commercial vehicles: The Bihar State Government, at the behest of
the Supreme Court, has prepared an action plan to check air pollution in Patna. Only those
commercial vehicles that are less than 15-year-old will be allowed to ply in Patna beyond
April 1, 2004. The owners of old vehicles will, however, be allowed one-year time to
convert the engines to suit the changed norms.
Source: The Hindustan Times, Patna, 2, 03/07/2003
Hyderabad: Government
has no money to buy new vehicles: Unable to fund replacement of 15 year old government
vehicles to curb vehicular emissions, the Cabinet sub committee on pollution has suggested
implementation of R A Mashelkar Committee report on Auto Fuel Policy which was submitted
to the Centre about a year ago. Though the Andhra Pradesh state government decided to
scrap all vehicles acquired 15 years ago, it wanted to make a beginning with its own
fleet.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 5, 02/07/2003
Chennai: Euro
II-compliant buses adding to city’s pollution woes!: The signal turns green and
you are hit by yet another cloud of thick, black smoke belched out by an MTC bus. This is
a regular experience on Chennai city roads. But the perpetrator might not be one of the
ancient automobiles in the MTC fleet, but a Bharat Stage II (Euro II)-compliant bus
introduced last year to contain pollution levels in the city! One of the reasons for these
buses emitting levels of smoke exceeding 65 Hatridge units is the non-compatibility of the
low sulphur diesel with the fuel injection pump in the engines of Bharat Stage II buses,
according to the MTC officials.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai, sp1, 28/07/2003
^Top
| Transportation and traffic |
|
Delhi: Vehicular boom
set to outpace Metro relief: A bumper-to-bumper traffic scenario has been projected
for the year 2021. The present number of vehicles, which is about 35 lakh, may go beyond a
staggering 54 lakh, according to a projection by Centre for Science and Environment, which
is involved in the drafting of the Master Plan 2021. Experts say that by the time the
Metro will be ready their number will have gone out of hand. They say surface transport
will have to be improved to a level so as they are able to handle the excess load.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 1, 02/08/2003
In Nagaland, there is a
car for every 11 citizens: Nagaland with a population of over 19 lakhs has 1,86,276
vehicles, according to the latest records of the state transport department. This
translates into one vehicle for every 11 people. It seems to be raining cars in Nagaland
with people spending a fortune — about Rs 675 crores a year — on vehicles alone.
As the number of vehicles swell, traffic snarls have become the order of the day in major
towns of Nagaland. Every year, over 15,000 new vehicles take to the roads. The government
alone has 9,104 vehicles, but figure is expected to increase on an average of 234 every
year.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 3, 23/07/2003
Kolkata: Two for sorrow
on speed route: If the West Bengal government’s report card shows two out of 14
in its attempt to get engines complaint with Bharat Stage-II hitting the streets, the
progress report vis-à-vis traffic management is even murkier. Traffic management is
another integral part of making the city clean and green. Taking various factors into
consideration, the report submitted to Calcutta High Court by the 10-member committee of
experts set up by the government in 2000 included a 31 point list of recommendations to
improve the entire traffic management system and minimize environmental pollution.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 17, 10/07/2003
Transport leads in
diesel use: India’s transport sector continues to be the biggest consumer of
diesel, leaving behind agriculture, power generation and industrial applications by a huge
margin. It accounted for 59.8 per cent of the total consumption of the fuel during
2002-03, compared with 19.9 per cent by agriculture, 6.8 per cent by the power sector.
According to data, there was no appreciable change in the consumption pattern of diesel
between 2002-03 and 2001-02. The variation was limited to less than one per cent in each
case.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 2, 12/08/2003
Auto sales rev up fuel
consumption: An improvement in automobile sales has reflected in a healthy 6.1 per
cent growth in consumption of transport fuels in June 2003. According to officials of oil
companies, the jump in consumption of transport fuels like petrol and diesel corresponds
with improved auto sales. Petrol and diesel have both reported an increase of 13 per cent
and 7.03 per cent respectively in June. In line with this growth, sales of automobile
lubricants also jumped by 5.5 per cent.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 5, 21/07/2003
^Top
| National and local policy initiatives |
|
Delhi: Registration of
vehicles goes online: Owners of new cars and two-wheelers in the Capital can heave a
sigh of relief as they won’t have to run around anymore for the Registration
Certificate, thanks to the ‘simple’ online registration of vehicles. Delhi Chief
Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the direct "Online Self-registration System"
from dealers of some automobile majors, which would enable obtaining the Registration
Certificate (RC) without having to make endless trips to the Motor Licensing Office (MLO)
or the transport headquarters.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 3, 21/08/2003
Chennai: Pollution
awareness programme for lorry owners, drivers: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
organised an awareness programme on pollution and road safety for the members of the Tamil
Nadu Lorry Owners Association and water tanker lorry drivers. Issues like use of spurious
parts, overloading of water lorries, lack of proper training for lorry drivers are to be
discussed.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 3, 06/08/2003
Bengal in talks with
Japan, Thailand cos to improve transportation: The West Bengal Government has
initiated discussions with agencies in Japan and Thailand in order to improve the
transportation system in Kolkata. The CM said that the State government had accorded
priority status to the development of the transport infrastructure in and around the city
which is home to over 10 million people and more than eight lakh vehicle. The system would
take into account signaling for vehicular traffic and pedestrians as well. Talks were
being held with agencies in Japan and Thailand with a view to identifying a mass transport
system module that could be appropriately and effectively implemented in Kolkata.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 17, 20/08/2003
Delhi: Government
restricts CNG minibus: In an attempt to regulate and discipline traffic, the Delhi
government has decided to restrict the use of 15-seater CNG minibuses. The state has
stopped registering new CNG minibuses for private operators. The state transport ministry
is working out a formula to limit the number of minibuses registered in Delhi, government
sources said. Delhi already has 5,000 registered minibuses. They first gained prominence
in April 2001 when the SC clamped down on diesel-powered buses.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 4, 03/07/2003
Ban import of
second-hand car, used tyres: House panel: Criticising the auto policy as
"short-sighted", a Parliamentary panel demanded a total ban on import of
second-hand cars and used tyres. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry, in its
report tabled in Parliament, also flayed the policy for not having adequate incentives for
upgradation and modernization of buses considering that they were an indispensable mode of
transport for majority of the population. The committee wanted a ban on import of
second-hand cars as the country was being converted into a "graveyard for the cars or
dumping ground for second-hand cars that is eating into the domestic car industry".
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 10, 22/08/2003
Hyderabad: PCB wants old
cars banned: In what has become a routine affair the Pollution Control board has
decided to put a proposal before the Andhra Pradesh government once again, recommending
phasing out of polluting four wheel vehicles which are aged above 15 years. The PCB has
come out with similar proposals earlier, in 1999, 2000, and 2002, when the government
appeared almost ready to implement then towards fulfilling its commitment on providing
clean environment. The proposal was made after the PCB considered vehicles aged above 15
years as unsafe due to high quantities of pollution being emitted from them. As per
records of the Transport Department, there are about 31, 905 four wheelers that are over
15 years as on March 31, 2002. But such a thing never materialized with the proposal
getting struck at the Secretarial level. The PCB has been recommending phasing out old
vehicles in view of rising levels of vehicular pollution in the city over the years.
Source: Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, 4, 31/07/2003
Mumbai: State gets tough
with 15 year old vehicles: Issuing an ultimatum to the 15-year-old vehicle owners to
convert their vehicles into CNG by the end of this month, Maharashtra state government
warned that it would be forced to de-register them. And further force them out from the
city limits if Mumbai High Court refused to extend the date for conversion to July 31.
Source: The Free Press Journal, Mumbai, 1, 15/07/2003
Mumbai: Fine keeps out
old heavy vehicles: The deadline for 15-year-old heavy commercial vehicles to get off
Mumbai roads officially expired on 31st July, 2003, but officials suggest that most of
these vehicles have already vanished, since a daily penalty of Rs 500 for plying them on
the roads was introduced in April. The Bombay High Court had directed 15-year-old heavy
vehicles to be removed from the city or converted to clean fuels as part of a series of
orders phasing out old, polluting vehicles.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 2, 01/08/2003
^Top
HC bars 10-year-old
buses from plying in Uttaranchal hills: The Uttaranchal High Court has barred from
plying in the hilly regions 10 or more than 10-year-old buses in view of the increasing
number of accidents in the state. Acting on a PIL the court directed the Transport
Corporation, Transport Commissioner and State Director General of Police to ensure that
the order was duly implemented. The Court said in case of breach of the order, the person
and vehicle should not be let off without the permission of the court.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 21, 01/08/2003
Mumbai: HC puts brakes
on old vehicles: More than 20,000 trucks and buses that are 15 years and older can no
longer ply on the city roads. The Bombay high court directed transport authorities to
strictly abide by its October 2001 order to phase out old vehicles. But most of the
vehicles were already been phased out due to the penalty imposed on their plying.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 3, 05/08/2003
Punjab: Fresh air;
Notice to state, PPCB: On a public interest petition filed by Ravinder Singh Rana, an
advocate of Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking directions to provide citizens pure and
pollution-free air which has been held to be a fundamental right of the citizens, a
Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Chief Justice B.K. Roy and
Justice Amar Dutt today issued notices to State of Punjab and Secretary, Punjab Pollution
Control Board for August 26,2003.
Source: The Indian Express, Chandigarh, 4, 03/07/2003
Chennai: Emission level
in most MTC buses far above permissible limit`: The Madras High Court has ordered
notices to the Transport Department and the Metropolitan Transport Corporation on a public
interest litigation petition which highlights, among other things, the poor maintenance of
MTC buses, pollution caused by them and frequent breakdowns.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 3, 24/08/2003
^Top
Diesel sales falling as
demand grows: According to oil industry sources, diesel consumption fell 5.5 per cent
in the first four months of the current financial year, while sales of diesel cars surged
over 50 per cent. Even sales of multi-utility vehicles climbed more than 30 per cent
year-on-year during the period. Commercial vehicle sales grew 29.5 per cent, while that of
diesel generators climbed 10-15 per cent. Conventional wisdom says a sharp increase in
sales of diesel engines indicates a corresponding hike in diesel consumption. But the
reality is otherwise. The reason is: massive adulteration of the fuel in the open market
before it reaches end users.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 8, 28/08/2003
Higher duty mooted on
PMS kerosene to check adulteration: In A bid to curb adulteration of diesel with
kerosene, the Petroleum Ministry has written to the Finance Ministry seeking a hike in
excise duty on kerosene sold under the Parallel Marketing Scheme (PMS). In a recent
communication to the Finance Ministry, the Ministry has sought a levy of Re 1 per litre as
additional excise duty on PMS kerosene, besides permission to allow oil companies to enjoy
Modvat credit on diesel, according to official sources.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 4, 08/07/2003
Delhi: Two petrol pumps
to face action for adulteration: The Civil Supplies Corporation of the Delhi
Government has suggested cancellation of licence of two petrol pumps that were found to be
selling adulterated petrol. These pumps are located on Asaf Ali Road and Pankha Road.
Solvents, which cost half the price of petrol, were found mixed with the fuel. If
convicted, the accused can be fined and imprisoned for a minimum of three years.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 3, 08/07/2003
Delhi: Government gets
tough on gas pumps: The recent case in which two petrol pumps were caught selling
adulterated fuel by the Delhi Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) department has exposed the
ease with which fake products can be passed off to the unsuspecting public. The Centre for
Science and Environment (CSE) had done an independent study on fuel testing last year only
to discover various loopholes even in the laboratory testing methods used for inspecting
the samples.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 4, 10/07/2003
Delhi: Adulterated
diesel racket busted: In a raid, Delhi Police unearthed a unit producing adulterated
diesel from kerosene in South Delhi. The products were sold to industrial units in
neighbouring States of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Nine people have have arrested so far in
this connection. The raid was carried out following information received by the Economic
Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police. According to the police, the unit indulged in
selling adulterated and sub-standard quality of diesel/kerosene in wholesale and retail.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 3, 16/07/2003
Ahmedabad: The air we
choke on: It is no secret that adulterated petrol used by three wheelers is the major
cause for increasing air pollution. According to a CEPT study, out of the 42,000 total
registered rickshaws in Ahmedabad city, 67% were polluted beyond permissible limits and
45% ran on kerosene-mix fuels. According to officials, daily about 15-20 rickshaws from
different areas in the city are impounded during random checks and punished for flouting
pollution rules. The obvious solution, according to experts, is conversion to LPG and more
importantly educating three-wheeler drivers about the benefits.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 12/08/2003
Ahmedabad: Traffic
police gets cracking to tackle air pollution: The Ahmedabad Traffic Police (ATP)
personnel, along with officials of the Forensic Science Laboratory, the district civil
supplies department and the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) conducted a
pollution test on autorickshaws in Ahmedabad city. Random examination of fuel being used
by autorickshaws in the city proved that more than 80% run on fuel mixed with kerosene.
FSL experts confirmed presence of kerosene, which causes pollution.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 02/08/2003
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