GRAP measures will intensify from today Epca moots 15,000 e-autos from Delhi Metro stations DMRC will get 100 e-buses to boost connectivity
Air likely to slip into very poor category, diesel generators will be banned
Good: 0-50 Satisfactory: 51-100 Moderate: 101-200 Poor: 201-300
Very Poor: 301-400 Severe: 401-500 130 112 173 211 216 222 270 252 on diesel, kerosene or petrol. It had issued a list of exemptions that included emergency and essential services.
Besides these measures, agencies have been asked to step up night patrolling and monitoring of 13 identified pollution hotspots to prevent burning of waste or the use of unapproved fuels.
“While incidents of garbage burning have come down in hotspots such as Bawana, Narela and Mundka, new hotspots — Mandoli in Delhi and others in NCR— are emerging. Constant efforts are needed to check these activities,” Bhure Lal, chairperson, Epca, said.
According to the central pollution wathcdog data, the 24-hour average AQI of Delhi, till 4pm Monday, was 252, in the poor category on a scale of 0 to 500, with 0 being the least polluted and 500 the most severe. This is slightly better than Sunday’s AQI of 270.
The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), a unit under Union ministry of earth sciences, in a statement issued on Monday said, “So far, the impact of stubble burning on the overall air quality in Delhi has been around 8%. Air quality is likely to deteriorate from the fourth week of October, when the temperature will dip and that, coupled with calm winds, will not allow the dispersion of pollutants.”
ON STUBBLE BURNING Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged neighbouring state governments to take steps to prevent crop stubble burning, saying smoke from outside is leading to spike in pollution levels in Delhi.
“In the last four months, Delhi’s air quality has been in ‘good’ category, which is unprecedented. The smoke coming from outside is increasing pollution levels again. I request all state governments and institutions to intervene,” he said during a press conference. NEW DELHI: The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (Epca) Monday said it will submit a report before the Supreme Court, seeking its nod on behalf of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for plying 15,000 e-autos from Metro stations in the national capital to boost last-mile connectivity.
The move has come after the apex court, which had earlier capped the number of auto-rickshaws in the city at one lakh, asked the panel to examine the issue and submit a report.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had earlier filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court, seeking an approval for the registration of 15,000 e-auto-rickshaws to provide last-mile connectivity from all its 184 Metro stations in the city, as the existing e-rickshaws can ply only on selected routes.
During a meeting on Monday with stakeholders, including the Delhi Metro, transport department and Union ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH), the Supreme Courtappointed committee asked them to provide a regulatory framework for operating e-autos, management of charging points and fares, as well as submit a plan for battery disposal.
“While e-autos could be a good step to provide last-mile connectivity from Metro stations, which has been an issue for long, there has to be a regulatory framework for such vehicles to operate. The fear is to not let these become e-rickshaws, most of which are plying illegally with harmful batteries and no laid down process for charging or disposal. There should be a proper mechanism for disposal of batteries so that they do not end up with domestic waste, causing an environmental hazard,” Sunita Narain, member, Epca, said.
Also, she said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has to provide guidelines on how these vehicles will be monitored and set up a central control room for the same as well as decide where these vehicles will be parked.
According to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation officials who attended the meeting, the e-autos will be introduced in phases and will have sophisticated lithium ion batteries, unlike the lead acid batteries used in e-rickshaws.
“E-autorickshaws will be operated through concessionaires and Gps-based monitoring will ensure that these ply only in designated areas. Also, we will provide charging facilities at depots as well as at stations,” Narain said.
A Union ministry of road transport and highwaysofficial told the panel that e-autos are in addition to the one lakh autos permitted by the Supreme Court.
The ministry had issued a notification on October 18 last year, removing the requirement for permits for battery-operated vehicles. NEW DELHI: In a bid to improve last-mile connectivity from Metro stations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to procure 100 electric feeder buses.
With Metro expanding its network, efforts are being made to improve last-mile connectivity. Apart from feeder buses, DMRC has also introduced electric scooters or e-scooters and bicycles at various Metro stations.
These e-buses, which will have a capacity to carry 35-30 people, will be procured using the subsidy given by the Centre under the scheme, faster adoption and manufacturing of electric vehicles (FAME-2).
The 100 e-buses will be run in the north and east cluster of DMRC. “The DMRC has floated tenders for procurement of 100 electric buses, which will be divided into two clusters (north and east). This will help in enhancing last-mile connectivity in the city. The electric buses will also be non-polluting,” a DMRC official said.
To ensure passenger comfort, these buses will be air-conditioned. Last year, the Delhi Metro had invited bids to procure 427 air-conditioned e-buses, but it was scrapped earlier this year following issues of financial viability. “The viability gap was high and in view of that, the first tender had to be discharged,” a DMRC spokesperson said.
The official added, “This tender will receive limited subsidy from the department of heavy industry and public enterprises through their FAME-2 scheme.”
While e-autos could be a good step to provide last-mile connectivity from stations, there has to be a regulatory framework. The fear is to not let these become e-rickshaws, most of which are plying illegally.