CII proposes ‘last-digit’ rationing scheme to reduce greenhouse emissions

: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has submitted a report to the Delhi government where it has proposed the implementation of Last Digit Automobile Rationing Scheme (LDARS) to reduce pollution and congestion in the city.

In LDARS, if a car’s number plate ends with 1 then it will not be allowed to drive on roads on the 1st, 11th, 21st and 31st of a month. Similarly, cars with number plates that end in 2 would not be allowed to drive on roads on the 2nd, 12th and 22nd. And so on.

Mr. Subodh Bhargava, former president of CII and chairman of Tata Communications, said: “It is good to see fewer cars on roads but we understand odd-even scheme cannot be made permanent”.

“We suggest the rationing should cover all passenger cars, two wheelers, taxis, and commercial vehicles. The only categories that should be exempted are vehicles running on Compressed Natural Gas, buses and emergency vehicles,” said CII in a release.

The report, citing a study by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, said the universal average (Petrol and Diesel) carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from a car is 257 grams for every kilometre it runs, 75 grams for two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

“Based on this, a preliminary study undertaken by CII shows that if a vehicle travels 10 kms every day of the year, then the vehicle will release 9.4 lakh grams of CO2. Therefore, if all registered vehicles of Delhi travel 10 kms every day of the year, they emit 1,277,288 tons of CO2,” it said.

It further notes: “If the odd-even scheme is implemented for a fortnight every third month — or for 60 days every year — then the total reduction in CO2 emission would be 4,823 tons a year. That’s 0.37 per cent of the total emission in the year. It should also be noted that the odd-even scheme applies to only private cars while two-wheelers, three-wheelers, commercial vehicles, women drivers and CNG-fitted cars are exempted.

“If LDARS is implemented throughout the year, then the total reduction in emission would be 10,549 tons in a year. That’s 0.82 per cent of the total emission in the year. This is provided if only buses, taxis and emergency vehicles like PCR vans, ambulances and fire brigades are exempt.