EPCA’s pollution cure for Delhi: Ban nonCNG vehicles

NEW DELHI: The national capital’s primary pollution control and prevention agency on Monday suggested imposing a complete ban on all non-CNG vehicles, both private and commercial, if pollution remains at ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ levels — a measure that experts and stakeholders described as impractical, kneejerk, and symptomatic of the haphazard manner in which the war against bad air is being fought.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority [EPCA] said after a meeting that it was asking the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to look at the feasibility, and if it would help cut pollution.

“Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority believes that in the scenario that weather remains adverse and that the current situation of air quality remains in the same category or deteriorates, there is no other option but to direct for a complete stop on the use of private and commercial vehicles other than those plying on CNG,” a statement issued by the Supreme Court-appointed body said.

Ironically, the recommendation was made on a day when EPCA said three existing bans – on construction activity, entry of trucks into the city, and industries running on coal and biomass – would be relaxed on a technicality that the pollution level on the air quality index fell to 399, marginally below the 400+ ‘severe’ level it was in for the past three days. It also said air quality may improve because of favourable weather conditions over the next two days.