As the air pollution level in the national Capital was recorded in the severe category on Sunday, the Delhi Government’s transport department has issued an order banning the movement of BS-III and BS-IV vehicles in the national Capital till December 9. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 4 PM on Monday stood at 347 which falls under the “very poor” category, as per the bulletin released by the Central Pollution Control Board.
The AQI of Ghaziabad stood at (281), Faridabad (294), and Gurugram at (288) which comes under poor category. On the other hand, Noida and Greater Noida, reported the AQI at (305) and (350) respectively which comes under the”very poor” category, as per the data of the pollution control board. The Transport Department in the order stated that BS-III, petrol and BS-IV, diesel LMV (four-wheelers) if found plying on the city’s roads would be prosecuted under Section 194 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and fined `20,000.
The Sub-Committee for operationalisation of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has reviewed the air quality scenario as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and the AQI in Delhi. After the review, it has ordered to implement Stage-III (‘severe air quality’) of revised GRAP in Delhi-NCR, with immediate effect.
“As per the directions provided under Stage III of the revised GRAP and under Section 115 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, it is hereby ordered that there shall be restrictions to ply BS-III, petrol and BS-IV, Diesel Light Motor Vehicles (four wheelers) in Delhi, with immediate effect, till dated December 9 or till downward revision in GRAP stage, whichever is earlier,” it stated. This rule will not be applicable to the emergency vehicles that were plying in the Capital, the order further stated.
Last month, in a related development, LocalCircles, a community social media platform, conducted a survey which received responses from over 9,000 owners of BS-IV diesel cars. According to the survey, a section of the car owners expressed displeasure at the move. Nearly 11 per cent of the car owners said they will violate the ban and face the consequences, while 25 per cent said they will switch to public transport. Another 49 per cent diesel car owner said they had access to vehicles which did not come under the ban and will use those instead.
