Delhi (The Stellar News): The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a new policy to help curtail air pollution levels in Delhi and the surrounding NCR. The new policy covers plans to control pollution levels across sectors from industrial plants to heavy generators and the auto sector. Aside from updating the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the CAQM also called for the pushing out of all diesel auto-rickshaws, currently operating in Delhi’s neighbouring NCR territories to be phased out by the end of 2026.
Aside from Delhi, the NCR also includes 14 districts of Haryana, 8 districts of UP and 2 districts of Rajasthan. The phasing out is set to be implemented in a phased manner with Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar. Diesel autos were already either phased out or converted to CNG with none currently registered in Delhi.
Additionally, the policy calls for only CNG and electric auto-rickshaws to be registered in the NCR from 1 January, 2023. The policy also asserts that all vehicles being refueled at petrol pumps should be checked for valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates prior to being refueled.
The policy has also listed out plans for further development of CNG and LNG fuelling stations in NCR and highways. The move is aimed towards the adoption of cleaner burning fuels in large commercial vehicles which primarily use diesel.
Report: Deepanjot Kaur (Under Training
