Do not let a handful of bus operators hold the city to ransom and compromise the health of millions in this city. It is time to implement the Court order and not divert attention by whipping up public ire for misguided political gains

NEW DELHI APRIL 8, 2002: The Centre for Science and Environment feels encouraged to see the responsible way the city government has responded so far to focus on the implementation strategy of the court order. After such a clear and comprehensive direction from the Supreme Court, the government must not come under pressure from a small but politically powerful group of bus operators and let a handful of them hold the city to ransom. Let the message go out that the government is still in charge.

If bus operators are not willing to pay fine and run their diesel buses then let them surrender their permits. These permits can be immediately transferred to other CNG bus operators who have recently purchased CNG buses but have been denied permission to run their buses under stage carriage permit. Most of them have only been given contract carriage permits for limited operation ostensibly on the grounds that those who are plying diesel buses with special permits have already used up the quota of permits that can be granted in different stage carriage routes. There are ways to implement and government will have to focus on implementation. The message has to go out once and for all that the bus operators will have to take the court order seriously and there is no room for further negotiation.

This time the Supreme Court has looked into all possible objections with regard to availability, supply and allocation of CNG, doubts about CNG technology being experimental and delivery capacity of the bus manufacturers. While giving directions the Court has looked into all aspects and information submitted to the Court by all concerned very carefully to give clear directions on strategies that should be followed to implement the order. What the Court therefore has said with respect to schedule of phasing in 800 CNG buses per month, allocation of additional gas, the amount of penalty are feasible and doable. It will be a crime against people if the government or any political party adds to the confusion by casting doubts on the merit of the CNG strategy and its implementation for short-sighted political gains.

Too much time has been lost in implementing this order due to the obstructive stance of the CNG detractors. In the process we have neither implemented the CNG order nor have we taken up any other measure to control air pollution in Delhi over the last one year. The result of this is already showing up in the air quality. The major gain that was made over the last four years in stabilizing and even lowering the pollution levels in Delhi is being lost as the recent pollution data show that the particulate pollution levels are rising again.

This has serious public health implications in light of the mounting evidence of the health effects of air pollution. The most recent and shockingly conclusive evidence on the lethal effects of particulate pollution on health is the recent study published Journal of American Medical Association that has shaken the western world. The JAMA study has thrown up stunning evidence based on a study spanning over 16 years, covering 500,000 people and 116 metropolitan areas. This study is based on the analysis of cancer data of American Cancer Society covering 1.2 million adults proves that with a mere 10 microgramme per cubic meter increase in fine particles smaller than 2.5 micron can increase the risk of lung cancer by 8 per cent, cardio pulmonary deaths by 6 per cent and all deaths by 4 per cent.

The most worrying finding of this study is that countries like the US that are already in the forefront of technology development and have succeeded to a great extent in lowering pollution levels close to the permissible standards find that the levels are still associated with significantly increased risk of cancer and cardiopulmonary deaths. It is horrifying that the study found more hospitalization at lower levels of particulate pollution -- the rate increased by 20 per cent or more at concentration less than 50 microgramme per cum. This means despite the massive exercise in pollution control serious health impacts are showing up at a low concentration.

This has serious implications for Indian cities that are reeling under severe particulate pollution. The few studies that are available in India on health effects of air pollution prove that we are already in a crisis. Paying a very heavy price are the elderly and children in our cities.

We will have to implement the CNG orders immediately to lower the severe particulate pollution and deal with the looming public health crisis.