New air action plan signals winds of welcome change

The Times of India , Thursday, July 07, 2016
Correspondent : TNN
Ahmedabad: The city's air is gradually turning noxious, and in the near future we may lose whatever breathable quality it has, if checks are not immediately put into place to curb the ever rising levels of air pollution, and their sources.

The new air action plan for the city - the last one was conceived in 2001 - has been readied on paper and has already passed through multi-agency consultations.

It will be placed before the state government within this fortnight for approval. Right from the Ahmedabad collector, municipal commissioner, city police, traffic police, RTO, civil supplies department, to bodies like Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and other allied agencies have played a part in developing the plan.

The new air action plan proposes to attack the problem of air pollution from as many angles as possible. It focuses on ridding roads of potholes to reduce traffic congestion and pollution from vehicles.

The widening of roads, curbing of overloading of vehicles - especially that of trucks and big passenger vehicles - has been made a priority. Some other aspects of the air action plan have to do with stringent action against burning of waste in the open, and fuel adulteration.

In the case of Compressed natural gas (CNG) autorickshaws that emit fumes, the high-powered committee has already provided a list of 200-odd dubious 'CNG engine oil' suppliers to the civil supplies department.

"The problem is adulteration of Compressed natural gas engine oil which creates pollution from particulate matter," said a senior official working in the Ahmedabad collectorate.

"In the case of heavy commercial vehicles which run on diesel, we are planning to curb their entry into the city, and also ensure that they are not overloaded," said the official. "For public transport, we have asked the civic agencies to ensure that CNG buses are brought back to Ahmedabad streets."

A major concern is strict implementation of PUC norms. "We have asked for special computer software with which PUC centre operators can be prevented from manipulating pollution figures," said a GPCB official.

"With Bharat Stage VI norms in fuel to be implemented in the future, PUC norms will be revised."

The civic body has a major role to play in the new air action plan. Ensuring widening of roads, efficient waste collection and disposal remain largely in their hands.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/New-air-action-plan-signals-winds-of-welcome-change/articleshow/53090220.cms
 


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