The soaring pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas post Diwali each year results in authorities adopting stringent restrictions in a bid to improve the air quality of the capital. Bans include different stages of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan), with the stage III currently in place since December 22 owing to Delhi's AQI hovering in the severe (401-450) category.
Under the GRAP III restrictions,
BS3
petrol and
BS4
diesel cars are banned from plying on the roads of Delhi NCR, with a fine of Rs 20,000 under section 194 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. We managed to get in touch with a spokesperson at Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and adjoining areas to get a clearer idea of pollution caused by motor vehicles.
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With data of the past four days (December 25 - 28) available with us, all transport in Delhi combined contributed to an average of 14.74% to PM 2.5 in Delhi, including cars, two-wheelers and all commercial vehicles. Other sources contributing to pollution include waste burning, construction, pollution caused by energy usage, industrial pollution, among a host of other factors. The data has been compiled by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.
Meanwhile vehicle owners continue to express their dismay after not being able to use their cars despite the vehicles being merely about five years old and carrying a valid PUC (Pollution Under Check) certificate. Do you think that the government should continue to ban BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles or should the vehicles with a valid PUC be allowed to run in the city? Let us know your views in the comments down below.
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