Releasing a report on air pollution, Public Policy Research Center (PPRC) , a think tank of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wasted its five years and managed to add just one electric bus in its existing fleet buses.
"No tangible steps taken to curb pollution by AAP Government ," Dr Vinay Sahasarabuddhe, President ICCR and Director PPRC, Member of Parliament (MP) said.
"Where are zero vacuum vehicles pressed into service in the past five years despite commitment from the government on the same.
The claim of 25% reduction in air pollution stands unravelled with the fact that PM 2.5 levels increased as compared to last year," said Dr Sahasarabuddhe.
Citing Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) report on Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), he said that the central government built EPE in May 2018 and has brought down vehicular pollution in Delhi by at least 7 percent.
"BJP ruled EDMC introduced 40 water sprinklers tankers, two super-sucker machines, six suction-cum-jetting machines and four auto-mounted-litter-picker machines and other machines worth Rs 70 crore to fight pollution in the national capital from funds allocated under Swachh Bharat Mission by Ministry of Urban Development," he added further.
Pertinently, air pollution in Delhi has breached severe mark in November month twice.
'The average Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) concentration in Delhi's air for November 2018 stood at 209.6µg/m³. The corresponding figure for November 2019 is 296.8µg/m³. This shows a clear increase in the concentration of the deadly pollutant in the air by not less than 41 percent," he further added
While vehicular pollution is also vital factor, PPRC in its report mentioned about Delhi Transport Cooperation (DTC) and the number of buses plying on roads. "Total number of DTC buses as on March 31st 2015 was 4,705 and up to12th November 2019, it came down to 3,781 buses, registering a shortfall of 957 buses in the duration of the current government. More worryingly, the DTC buses fleet continues to fall even during the initiative of the odd-even rule this month," PPRC said in its research.
