Respiratory ailments killed 207 in 2016 Vintage cars get NGT nod for rallies and exhibitions
OUT OF BREATH Death toll in Delhi was highest since 2013, Capital ranked third after UP and Bengal
NEW DELHI: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) claimed the maximum number of lives in Delhi in 2016 — when the National Capital experienced its one of the worst pollution episodes in recent times — compared to previous years.
Delhi witnessed its worst smog in 17 years in 2016. Fumes from stubble-burning regions, firecrackers burnt during Diwali, local pollution from vehicles and unfavourable meteorological conditions had taken a heavy toll on Delhi’s air quality in November and December.
At least 207 people had died in Delhi in 2016 because of ARI.
In 2013, 2014 and 2015, the number of deaths related to such infections were 175, 106 and 133, respectively.
Delhi’s is the third highest death toll in the country in 2016, after Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. While 822 people died in Uttar Pradesh, 635 died in West Bengal in the same year.
This data was submitted to Lok Sabha on Friday by the Central government.
Earlier, a British medical journal — The Lancet — had stated that more than half-a-million Indians were estimated to have died prematurely in 2015 due to high levels of PM 2.5, which can penetrate deep into the lungs, triggering a range of respiratory and cardiac ailments.
Union environment and forest minister Harsh Vardhan had, however, recently claimed that “ultimately these studies have to be India-centric. To attribute any death to a cause like pollution may be too much.”
The ministry told Parliament that even though cases of ARI across India shot up from 32.7 million in 2013 to 40.3 million in 2016, the number of deaths had not registered a consistent increase year on year in the same period.
Interestingly, the number of ARI cases in Delhi showed a decline from 3,90,170 in 2013 to NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday allowed vintage cars to ply on the roads for rallies and exhibitions in Delhi, with a few riders.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that vintage cars that satisfy prescribed norms under the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to run on Delhi’s roads.
Granting relief to the vintage cars, the green court referred to Rule 92 (2)(c) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which grants exemption to “antique or vintage” vehicles.
“We direct that antique cars that satisfy prescribed norms under the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to ply on the road for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance and will not be allowed otherwise.
“We observe that the applicant association as part of their corporate social responsibility would make contribution towards the environment by planting trees and providing dustbins, which would help in improving the ambient air quality of Delhi,” the bench also comprising Justice UD Salvi, said.
Advocate KTS Tulsi, who represented the Heritage Motoring Club of India, told Hindustan Times, “The tribunal passed the order allowing the antique or vintage cars to be registered under the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act and Rules subject to the condition that these would be permitted to ply on the roads for the purpose of exhibitions, rallies and maintenance. These, however, would not be allowed to be regularly driven on roads,”
The green court had on April 7, 2015 held that all diesel vehicles more than 10 years old will not be permitted to ply in Delhi-ncr. On November 26, 2014, it had banned plying of all diesel or petrol vehicles more than 15 years old.
“All vehicles, diesel or petrol which are more than 15 years old, shall not be permitted to ply on the roads and wherever such vehicles of this age are noticed, the authorities concerned shall take appropriate steps in accordance with law...,” the tribunal had said on November 26, 2014.
Heritage Motoring Club of India vice-president Madan Mohan, who is also the organiser of the 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally, welcomed the order. “We are very happy that the NGT has finally heard us and given its permission so that we can take out these cars for maintenance, rallies and exhibitions. This is our attempt to protect this heritage, which needs to be preserved at any cost, failing which these antique and vintage vehicles will extinct very soon. And this (order) is a great start. Later, we will move them (NGT) for permission to get out these vintage cars on the weekends,” Mohan said.