India to shift to BS VI vehicular emission norms by April 2020 : Javadekar

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi  : Efforts of the Central Pollution Control Board are resulting in more ‘good days’ in terms of environment in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi.

Giving details at a Press Conference in New Delhi on October 7, 2019, Union  Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar, said that a high level meeting of the five States to address the problem of air pollution in Delhi due to stubble burning will be held soon. To control stubble burning, the government has given more than 20,000 machines to farmers in Punjab and Haryana at a cost of about Rs 1,150 crore, the Minister said.

Javadekar said,, “Recognition of existence of a problem is beginning of solution of the problem. The pollution problem of Delhi-NCR started aggravating since 2006 and was not recognised till 2014. In 2015, under the supervision of PM Narendra Modi, Air Quality Index (AQI) was launched. Today, 113 AQI monitoring stations are present in Delhi-NCR and 29 more are to be installed soon.” The Minister said that out of 273 days till 30th September 30 in 2019, number of ‘Good’, ‘Satisfactory’ and ‘Moderate’ days were 165 as against 104 in 2016, according to a PIB release.

The Minister further informed that Bharat Stage Six (BS VI) is a revolutionary step in the transformation of fuels. He added that there has been 80% reduction in Particulate Matter emissions and 30% reduction in Nitrogen Oxides emissions in BS IV heavy duty diesel vehicles compared to BS III norms. Nearly Rs 60,000 crore were spent on switching over to BS VI fuels. “The Country will shift to BS VI vehicular emission norms from BS IV by April 2020. BS VI petrol/diesel is already available in Delhi/NCR,” said Javadekar.

Terming the launch of green fire crackers with green logo and QR coding system on October 5, 2019, a historic initiative, the Minister advised not to burst crackers this Diwali. However, if one chooses to then opt for the green crackers which is aimed at reducing pollution and health risks, Javadekar said.

Pointing out various efforts undertaken to control pollution, Javadekar stated, “From today onwards, 46 teams of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are taking stock of pollution levels in Delhi-NCR and will take appropriate action wherever needed.”

Talking of initiatives relating to e-mobility and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation network, Javadekar said that 377 Km of metro lines with 274 stations is catering to more than 30 lakh passengers daily in an environmentally friendly manner.  He termed it has one of the best systems of public transport in the world because of which more than 4 lakh vehicles are avoided on roads, thereby, reducing pollution.