Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has recently prepared an action plan to counter high air pollution levels, and an implementation strategy for the new government with special emphasis on clean fuel and scaling up of public transportation in the capital. While the Centre has already announced a three month plan for NCR, most of the actions pointed out by CSE can be taken up by the Delhi government immediately but will require major planning and financial intervention.
In UP, retail price of diesel is higher than Delhi, while in Haryana it is roughly the same."The current cess on diesel of 0.25 paise in Delhi should be increased to Rs 2.25 to dis-incentivize diesel and increase revenue for pollution control," recommends CSE. The pollution cess on diesel, which was imposed in 2007, has already raised Rs 200 crore that should be used for public transport, they said.
BS-IV fuel is already available across north India, but a notification to register BS IV compliant vehicles in non-BS IV states has not been issued by the ministry of transport yet. CSE recommends that Delhi immediately take up the matter with Centre. Only a few approved models of e-rickshaws (registered according to ARAI guidelines) are getting registered now, but CSE suggests development of a citywide road map of deploying battery-run two-wheelers, three-wheelers, taxis and buses.
The Kejriwal-led government may have to now invest more resources in promoting public transport. "Ironically, tax on bus is higher than cars in Delhi. There is a 12% excise duty and 12% VAT on basic and excise on each bus. On a Rs 29 lakh bus, it would mean there is a tax of roughly Rs 7 lakh. This should be waived off and there should be increase in car tax," CSE's action plan recommends.
It backs up the recommendation with numbers. In Ambedkar Nagar, buses take up 8% of the space but move 61% of people. Cars in general carry only about 12% of people. "Transport department has nine clusters of 2,436 buses in Delhi. But currently 1,400-1,500 buses are plying as land for bus depots has not been made available by DDA. This needs to be addressed," a CSE researcher suggested.
They have also recommended ways to make cluster buses financially viable by using the interiors and exteriors of buses as advertisement spaces. In spite of the common reciprocal agreement signed by all NCR states, public transport connectivity in the region is poor. CSE recommends that an initial plan be presented in three months and then arrangements for implementation across NCR will be worked on.
UTTIPEC guidelines for pedestrian access are not complied with in many cases because of lack of road space. "In all future projects, roads with all agencies will be designed from end to middle, starting with pedestrian space," CSE said.
A few other solutions include asking BIS to issue guidelines to allow reused material to be used in construction, negotiating with Centre on supply of affordable gas for Delhi's power stations, a 5-year procurement plan and global tender for 5,000 buses.
