|
Delhi:
Gasping for breath during Diwali: During Diwali, Pollution levels have
been steadily rising in Delhi over the past three years. “The limit for the lethal
carbon monoxides is 2,000 micrograms per cubic metre. But it touched 4,452 in 1999 and
6,564 in 2000,” a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) scientist said. Suspended
particulate matter (SPM) — which aggravates asthma, touched 1,089 in 2001, while its
limit is 200. Respirable SPM, which can even trigger cancer, touched 754, way above the
permissible limit of 100. For All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
associate professor Dr Randeep Guleria, a sharp rise in the number of patients at his
asthma clinic around Diwali time is nothing new. The number in casualty and asthma clinic
has increased by about 30 per cent.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 4,
22/10/2003
Delhi:
Watch this haze, there is some bad news breaking: For those all set to
splurge on crackers this Diwali, a note of caution: This year the pollution levels are
much worse than last year, and for some dangerous pollutants above dangerous levels. Delhi
inhales cleaner air compared to previous years but lack of pro-active action for the past
12 months has resulted in a gradual inching up of pollutants on the monitoring charts of
the Central Pollution Control Board. In a report submitted to the Supreme Court in June
this year, the Bhure Lal Committee pointed out that although better technology and
improved fuel quality have helped clean up Delhi’s air, “increasing number of
vehicles has the potential to nullify the results achieved”. “The intensity of
traffic in the Capital is not being regulated. The reason why NOx and RSPM are recording
higher levels this year is because the influx of traffic has gone up,” says Anumita
Roy Chowdhary of the CSE.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 24/10/2003
Ahmedabad:
The killer is in the air: There is a smell of death and disease in
Ahmedabad’s air. According the last data published by the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB), Ahmedabad is the worst place to breathe in the country. In fact, air
pollution levels here are 300 per cent higher than the accepted standards. More than 13.5
lakh vehicles ply on the city roads emitting toxins in air. It is believed that 65,000
three-wheelers plying are the worst offenders as nearly 80 per cent of toxins that impact
the ambient air quality come from these source. There is as a result a serious threat to
the health of the people in the city. The cases of air borne contact dermatitis have
increased now.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 07/11/2003
Bangalore:
Flyovers, LPG autos to reduce air pollution: More flyovers and one-ways are in
the offing in Bangalore, as per a reply sent to Supreme Court by the State Government on
its measures to check air pollution. Information, Environment and Ecology Minister Allum
Veerabhadrappa, after a Cabinet meeting, said the SC in a direction on August 14 had come
down heavily on Bangalore’s rising air pollution levels. The State Government replied
that it would introduce LPG for three wheelers, Ethanol as alternative fuel and check
prevention of adulteration.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 08/11/2003
Ahmedabad:
ADB keen on pollution control: An Asian Development Bank (ADB) team
comprising Albab Akanda, head of infrastructure and environment and Girish Mahajan,
environment specialist, was in Gujarat recently to review the progress of the technical
assistance programme already sanctioned by ADB and also to assess the requirements to
carry forward the programme of helping Gujarat in managing environment. The government of
Gujarat and GPCB together had prepared an action plan for controlling air pollution in the
city, which was presented before the Bhurelal Committee recently. The ADB team also showed
interests by providing equipment and mobile stations for constant monitoring of various
aspects of air pollution.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 05/11/2003
Hyderabad:
Pollution detectives clueless on RSPM killer: When you cough, pant and
puff at a busy traffic junction, filling your lungs with the blackest and thickest of
smoke in the city, put the blame partly on RSPM-respirable susupended particulate matter.
Big name, but in effect a mixture of sulphur dioxide, NO2 and toxins. And not
unexpectedly, the authorities are clueless on ways to curb it. A 2002 data shows that RSPM
level are the highest at Balanagar with 162 micrograms per cubic meter. The permissible
level is 150. Automobiles are the prime contributors of the RSPM.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 04/11/2003
^Top
| Vehicle technology, fuel
quality and emissions standards |
|
Lucknow, Sholapur to get low sulphur fuel:
Lucknow and Sholapur have been added to the list of cities, which will be supplied with
low sulphur content petrol and diesel by April 1 next year. Originally these cities were
to be covered in the second phase of the programme to provide Bharat Stage II emission
norms compliant fuels. According to a Petroleum Ministry release, petrol and diesel with
0.05 per cent sulphur content would be supplied in these cities from April 1, 2004 instead
of April 1, 2005 as per the auto fuel policy.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 12/11/2003
Ahmedabad, Surat:
Hope to breathe easy with Euro-III: It's two more years till cars roll
out onto the streets with strict Euro-III standards. But, people included in the list of
11 cities where the norm will be implemented from 2005, are already rejoicing. With the
number of vehicles growing exponentially, with about 500 to 600 being registered every day
in Ahmedabad alone, the decision has come as refreshing news for a population choking on
unburnt fuel and deadly emissions and grappling with rise in respiratory disorders. It is
expected that with better quality fuels and engine technology because of introducing Euro
III, the air pollution levels would come down in this two polluted cities of Gujarat.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 10/10/2003
Delhi:
Machines to check vehicle emission stuck at IGI: For nearly a month now,
three hi-tech gadgets for checking vehicle emission, have been lying at the Delhi airport.
The Delhi government's transport department has spent Rs 1.5 crore on each of these
machines that were shipped in from Sri Lanka. These remote-sensing machines will analyse a
moving vehicle's emission and record its registration number if the pollutants in the
emission is higher than the permissible limits. In its pilot phase, the project will be
carried by a US based agency. It will analyse an emission from a moving vehicle 80 times
in a second. The in built camera will photograph any vehicle that is found to be emitting
20 times the permissible limit.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 27/10/2003
Diesel cars to fuel MUL growth: Maruti Udyog has asked its parent Suzuki
Motor Corporation to design a calibrated strategy for diesel engines. Kinji Saito,
director marketing MUL said, "Today we have only 5 per cent of our total production
fitted with diesel engines. In India currently 15 per cent of the passenger cars have
diesel engines. This is a gap in our armoury." It is also been reckoned that India
will become Suzuki's hub for the mini car. The Indian facility at Gurgaon will become the
cynosure.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 23/10/2003
Diesel use may grow 5% in '03-04: Diesel consumption, an indicator of the
health of the economy, is expected to grow by 5 per cent during the current financial
year, as against a 3 per cent, estimated by the petroleum ministry at the beginning of the
year. There is no change in the estimates of the demand for other petroleum products. The
petroleum ministry has already revised its estimates of demand for petroleum products
during the tenth plan period.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 10/11/2003
Drop in demand for diesel 'locational', says study: A recent study by the
Petroleum Ministry on the drop in demand for diesel in the country over the last two years
has shown that the slide is 'locational' and not 'sector-specific', according to official
sources. States such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra
have shown the maximum reduction in consumption of domestically produced diesel when
compared with the periods 1999-00 and 2002-03. Interestingly, these states qualify as
coastal areas or fall under the natural geographic area of sale for Reliance Industries.
In the case of coastal areas, the drop in demand is due to import of kerosene, which is
used to adulterate diesel.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 14/10/2003
Chennai:
Hyundai ad on emission kicks up row: Hyundai Motor India has been in the
eye of controversy over the last two weeks ever since it introduced full-page as campaigns
saying "Today is April 5, 2005" in newspapers. The campaign has irked
competitors who have mounted pressure on the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers
(SIAM) and Advertisement Standards Council to restrain Hyundai India. SIAM drew Hyundai's
attention to the fact that manufacturers are exporting Euro III compliant vehicles both
with the CRDi and non-CRDi technologies. Therefore the question of obsolescence of
non-CRDi technology doesn't arise.
Source: The Economic Times, Chennai, 4/11/2003 |
|
^Top
Bio-fuels
Policy on bio-fuel in offing: A national policy on bio-fuels is in the
offing. "The paper is under preparation and should be ready within the next two to
three months," the Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) Mr M
Kannappan, said at Coimbatore on Tuesday. Mr Kannappan further stated that there was no
alternative to petroleum-based fuels except bio-fuels. He said MNES had enlarged its
programme and was currently supporting R&D projects on various aspects of bio-fuels,
including development of technologies for production and utilization. A national mission
on bio-fuels has recently been taken up.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 29/10/2003
Tamil Nadu:
Gasohol to be available at petrol bunks from Dec: Motorists
in Tamil Nadu will soon find that alcohol and driving do go together. Alcohol-blended
petrol, or gasohol, which cuts emissions from cars and motorcycles, will be available at
petrol bunks from December. The price of the fuel won't be affected significantly. The
decision to buy ethanol will bring more money to the cash-strapped sugar mills, which will
now have to increase production in their distilleries. The issues dogging the
implementation of ethanol programme in Tamil Nadu have been resolved.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 31/10/2003
CNG/LPG
Chennai:
24 more auto LPG stations by next March: With a view to
speeding up its drive towards greener fuels, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
(TNPCB) has directed the four oil majors to hasten the setting up of 24 Auto LPG
Dispensing Stations (ALDS) in the city before March 31 next year. Only four stations have
come up in the city in spite of series of discussions between TNPCB and oil companies.
BPCL has agreed to set up 24 stations, HPCL has decided on four and IOCL seven. Reliance
Petroleum has decided to open 30 and IBP on one.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai, 28/10/2003
Hyderabad:
LPG-run taxis to fuel tourism: For the first time, Hyderabad will
run on LPG-fuelled taxis. Maruti Udyog today introduced 20 LPG-run metered taxis as part
of its drive to promote pollution-free transport in the city. Presently there are seven
filling centers in the twin cities. Reliance is also planning to invest on LPG filling
stations. Passengers will have to pay Rs 40 as minimum fare for the distance of four kms.
After that it will cost Rs 10 per km.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 30/10/2003
Hydrogen economy:
India ready yet wary: 'A Hydrogen-powered vehicle at an
affordable price by 2020'. This is what US President George Bush has dreamt of. And a high
power delegation from the US is in India to convince the government to be a partner in
this vision. India though has been raising few doubts before boarding the hydrogen bus.
The US proposes to get hydrogen from Natural Gas.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 13/11/2003
Pondicherry:
Battery-operated vehicles getting popular: Battery-operated
vehicles could be the solution to the increasing vehicular pollution in Pondicherry. The
number of vehicles is on a steady rise. The government is also planning to issue permits
for various other routes in addition to the existing four routes. It is planned that
permits would be issued on those routes, which are not covered by the any public
transport. Government is extending a subsidy of Rs 15,000 for purchase of each vehicle
through DRDA in addition to the subsidy of Rs 80,000 extended by the MNES.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai, 12/11/2003
^Top
Karnataka:
Government told to survey old vehicles, take action: The
Karnataka High Court directed the State government to conduct a survey of old vehicles,
unfit for operation on public roads, and take action either to suspend or cancel
registration of such vehicles. Justice R Gururajan passed the order while dismissing a
petition filed by owner of a medium goods vehicle questioning the action taken by the
Regional Transport Officer, Madikeri to suspend the registration of his vehicle, which was
more than 40 years old. The High Court observed that use of such old and unfit vehicles on
public roads would pose danger to the life of the citizens.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 17/10/2003
Mumbai:
Brakes put on Euro-II option for old trucks: Rejecting the pleas of
20,000 heavy-vehicle owners, the Bombay high court refused to relax earlier directives on
old heavy vehicles, which specify that they should be either phased out or have their
engines converted to lesser polluting fuels like CNG. The Court instead extended the
pollution orders to include old heavy vehicles registered outside Mumbai. Vehicle owners
had been pushing for retrofitted Euro II engines, that comply with stricter environmental
norms, as a viable option to replacing vehicles entirely. Further a segment of
panic-struck truckers have also begun to sell their trucks at "very low prices",
industry sources say. Within a week's time of the Mumbai High Court's order, around 80-100
vehicles would have changed hands
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 18/10/2003 and The Financial Express,
New Delhi, 27/10/2003
Hyderabad: Is it the pollution unlimited
certificate? The computerised pollution under control certificate given by the mobile
checking unit of the Transport Department gives a lot of details - from the type of the
vehicle to the date of checking. The permissible levels of carbon monoxide levels (4.5 per
cent for two-wheelers and 3 per cent for three-wheelers) and the actual reading too find a
mention in the certificate. However, the glaring omission is the levels of hydrocarbons
and NOx. The AP State Pollution Control Board officials say that these pollution check
vehicles are supposed to monitor the levels of NOx and hydrocarbons emitted by vehicles.
However Road Transport Authority (RTA) says that according to the Central Motor Vehicle
Rules, 1989, RTA can monitor CO for petrol-run vehicles and smoke for diesel vehicles and
unless the government amends the rule, RTA cannot check hydrocarbons.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 05/11/2003
^Top
| TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC |
|
Delhi:
How many private vehicles? Government scratches head: The Delhi State
transport department doesn't know how many private vehicles are there in the city. The
department, it seems has not updated its data since last year. All that transport
officials have to say about the private vehicle population in the city is that the figure
ranges between 36 and 38 lakh. The reason is nine motor licensing offices (MLOs) are not
networked with the central computer section at the transport department head office.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 13/10/2003
Konkan railway to introduce sky bus metro: India's future generations
will travel across cities through 'air'. For in the next few years, our bigger cities
could be laced with arial metro rail or what is being developed as the 'sky bus metro'.
Konkan Railway Corporation can be credited with pioneering the concept of introducing this
as a mass transport system. The concept paper prepared by Konkan Railway managing
director, B Rajaram is loaded with promises which is the system is expected to deliver-
virtually changing the profile of cities. Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore,
Delhi, Faridabad/Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Noida, Pune and
Thane are the subsequent aspirants.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 11/10/2003
Car sales boom in September; 13% rise: Car sales surged by nearly 13 per
cent in September with almost all manufacturers such as Maruti Udyog, Hyundai Motor India
and Tata Motors recording a growth. Car sales went up for the sixth consecutive month to
56,764 units over 50,292 units in September 2002, data released by the Society of Indian
Automobile Manufacturers showed. Sales during April-September 2003 grew by a robust 23.7
per cent to 3.19 lakh units from 2.58 lakh cars during the same period last year. Sale of
multi purpose vehicles and vans grew by 15.6 per cent, largely on account of higher demand
for Maruti Versa and Omni van models.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 15/10/2003
Skybus:
State to gain from royalty: Goa government's plans for a tie-up with the
Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) for testing the indigenously developed technology for Sky
Bus Metro - whose prototype would be unveiled to the nation on Wednesday, would bring in
financial benefits for the State by way of royalty. The Goa government and the KRC will
enter into a joint venture for technology development. In return Goa will share 20 per
cent of the royalty. Meanwhile the Kerala government has already approved the Kochi Sky
Bus project, costing Rs 800 crore.
Source: Herald, Panjim, 15/10/2003
Centre to sign MoU with State for Bangalore Metro: The Centre is likely
to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka Government for the
Bangalore Metro, within six weeks. Detailed project report is been sent to Planning
Commission. Once the commission gives its nod, Union Cabinet will formally give its signal
for the Metro. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the consultants for the Bangalore
Metro project, provided the detailed project report with an estimated cost of Rs 5,000
crore.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 06/11/2003
^Top
| NATIONAL
& LOCAL POLICY INITIATIVES |
|
Delhi:
Private diesel buses can't enter city: The Delhi Traffic Police has banned the
entry of privately run interstate diesel buses plying between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
Over 500 buses running on six interstate routes have been stopped at the Delhi-Up border
since Thursday. These buses had been operational on these routes for the past 15-20 years.
Buses were stopped as they were found to violate Supreme Court directives on more than one
count. These buses are diesel-run, in violation of the pollution under control norms in
force in Delhi. The other reason was the Delhi transport department did not approve
permits granted to these buses by UP transport department.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 25/10/2003
Hyderabad:
First blow to land on aged diesel taxis: The action plan prepared by the state
Government to reduce air pollution envisages phasing out polluting commercial vehicles and
those which are more than 20-years old by 2009, conversion of three-wheelers to LPG mode
within a year and stoppage of sale of fuel to vehicles without PUC certificate. According
to the action plan, the government will offer the three-wheelers an incentive of 50 per
cent reduction on road tax for two years after conversion to LPG mode. Amendment of MV Act
to apprehend and penalize those that use adulterated fuel in vehicles within three months
is also proposed. The government has decided to cancel the permits of all diesel taxis
that are more than 15 years old with immediate effect and stop issuing permits to diesel
taxis that are more than 10 years old from October 2004.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 17/10/2003
Bangalore:
BMTC to serve more city areas: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport
Corporation (BMTC) managing director R.V. Devraj on Tuesday said the BMTC will soon extend
services beyond the 28-km radius, up to 48 km in Bangalore. To bring down air pollution
level in the city, Devraj said the Corporation was planning to launch 15 pollution-free
buses on an experimental basis. The Corporation has also completed the process of
purchasing 1000 high-tech buses.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 05/11/2003
^Top
Murder most foul in Delhi and around:
The Centre for Science and Environment has came out with a wide-ranging report on rampant
fuel adulteration in and around Delhi posing serious threat to new generation vehicles
with advanced technologies that promise cleaner emission. It has also raised the question
whether it is not the responsibility to see that the introduction of newer technologies is
complemented with a clean fuel regime. The report also tracks down pilferage to Bijwasan
Oil depot in Delhi from where oil is transported to retail outlets in tankers. CSE further
says that the answer lies in not holding back on aggressive technology advancement but in
hastening it.
Source: The Hindu, Delhi, 14/11/2003
Mangalore-Bangalore gas line set to minimize adulteration: The new
Mangalore-Bangalore gas line will provide welcome relief from the commotion created by oil
tankers that not only add to traffic woes on highways but also contribute to air
pollution. The newly inaugurated pipeline will also curb adulteration of petroleum
products, according to HPCL officials. There is a particular pumping frequency for each
product and a sequence of "which product follows which one."
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 15/10/2003
Delhi:
1.6 lakh litres of adulterated diesel seized in North: The Anti-Adulteration Cell
of the petroleum ministry seized 1,60,000 litres of adulterated diesel near Mondaka
village on Rohtak Road. It raided the godown of Raj Chemicals where they identified around
800 barrels of adulterated diesel. Sources said that after tip off the cell raided the
godown and found barrels containing kerosene mixed with certain chemicals, which were
being sold off as diesel. The chemicals, which were mixed with kerosene, gave it the
density required to pass off as diesel. On being put through density test, the adulterated
fuel gave a density very close to diesel.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 23/10/2003
Chennai:
48,000 litres of naphtha meant for petrol adulteration seized: The
Anti-Adulteration Cell of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday seized two
lorries transporting 48,000 litres of naphtha, allegedly meant to adulterate petrol in
Chennai. The papers being carried by the truckers showed that it was going to a chemical
company. On further inquiry it was learnt that the address and the firm itself where
bogus.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 02/11/2003
^Top |