Implied way of transitioning to CNG and EVs
Mumbai seems more conscious and cautious to make its people smoke and smog free to live healthy, wealthy and wise
Maharashtra government has constituted a seven-member expert committee to assess the feasibility of banning petrol and diesel vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
It is for tackling worsening air quality in the area. It certainly seems to be an implied way of transitioning to CNG and electric vehicles (EVs).
Maharashtra charts roadmap to remove petrol and diesel vehicles off Mumbai roads after Bombay HC nudge
Earlier this month, the Bombay High Court had initiated a ‘suo moto’ PIL over the city and its suburbs’ worsening pollution crisis.
Maharashtra wants to take petrol and diesel vehicles off its streets. The state government has set up a seven-member committee to study the viability of banning petrol and diesel-powered engines completely within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The MMR comprises the twin districts of Mumbai city and Mumbai suburban and large parts of Thane, Palghar and Raigad.
This follows the Bombay High Court’s directive earlier this month that in order to combat air pollution in Mumbai, the state needs to urgently undertake a comprehensive study to assess the feasibility of phasing out diesel and petrol-diesel vehicles in favor of those powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity.
The Bombay HC also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to take the measures, like:
- Ensure that city bakeries using wood and coal convert their units to run on gas or other green fuels within six months instead of the one-year deadline that had been set by the authorities earlier.
- Give no new approvals to open bakeries or similar businesses running on coal or wood.
- Grant new licenses to units that comply with the condition of using green fuel only.
- Install pollution indicators at construction sites.
The court said while all authorities are broadly aware of the problems and the reasons behind Mumbai’s depleting Air Quality Index (AQI), the solution and measures to be taken need to be arrived at immediately. The court said it would take stock of compliance efforts on February 13.
The seven-member committee set up by the state will be headed by retired IAS officer Sudhir Kumar Shrivastava and will submit a report with its recommendations within three months.
The other panel members are Maharashtra’s Transport Commissioner, Mumbai’s Joint Police Commissioner (traffic), the Managing Director of the Maha-Nagar Gas Limited, the project manager of the Maharashtra State Power Distribution Company Limited (Maha-Vitaran), the president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and Joint Transport Commissioner (Enforcement-1).
In fact, Air pollution is a major environmental issue that affects the health of millions of people. The main sources of air pollution in India include vehicle emissions, industrial activities, agricultural burning, and more. Further, during festivals people burn firecrackers, thus worsening the air quality in many cities across the country.
The AQI meter in various Indian cities has presently risen above 400, indicating health risks. These results in respiratory illnesses and other related health issues. Every year, millions of people die worldwide due to air pollution-related illnesses.
One of the top-most reasons for ‘High AQI’ in an area is ‘Vehicular Emissions’. The increasing number of vehicles on the roads leads to higher emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Also many cities are home to numerous factories and industrial units that release pollutants into the air. The lack of stringent regulations often results in unchecked emissions. Ongoing construction projects, too, generate dust and particulate matter. This is particularly problematic during dry seasons, when dust can easily become airborne. Additionally, around nearby agricultural regions, practices like stubble and dirt burning contribute to seasonal spikes in air pollution.
So, presently Mumbai seems more conscious and cautious to make its people smoke and smog free while living healthy, wealthy and wise.
Educationist/Administrator/Editor/Author/Speaker
Commencing teaching in his early twenties, Prof Aggarwal has diverse experience of great tenure in the top institutions not only as an educationist, administrator, editor, author but also promoting youth and its achievements through the nicest possible content framing. A revolutionary to the core, he is also keen to address the society around him for its betterment and growth on positive notes while imbibing the true team spirit the work force along with.
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