Ask Delhi on doubling parking fee, MoEF to SC

If the Delhi government agrees, parking charges may be doubled and commuters will be allowed to take out their cars only on alternative days.

In an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, the Ministry has suggested that the apex court seek the views of the Delhi government on prickly issues like doubling of parking charges, ban on diesel vehicles, plying of private cars on alternate days and allowing only Bharat Stage (BS)-III and BS-IV vehicles.

The Ministry has also asked the Supreme Court to seek the views of the Delhi government and Ministry of Health on “mandatory wearing of masks”. It however emphasised that “there should be no tolerance to visible smoke emitting vehicles”.

The affidavit said that road dust is the most “prominent source” of pollution in the National Capital, while vehicular emissions is the most toxic. “With regard to ambient PM10 concentrations in Delhi, road dust emerged as the most prominent source with contribution in the range of 14.5 percent – 29 percent whereas the contribution of vehicles was in the range of 8.7 percent - 29 percent,” the affidavit said.

“It said that control of vehicular emissions, being in finer faction and containing toxic EC and OC, is important for improving air quality and minimising adverse health effects,” it said.

It said that a study commissioned to IIT Kanpur would be available by the end of 2015.

In an earlier affidavit, the Ministry had recommended that BS-IV emission norms for vehicles be applied in the National Capital from April 1, 2015.

The Ministry has clubbed States like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana along with Delhi for quicker implementation of the norms.

The Ministry was making its stand clear in response to SC notice on the plea made by amicus curiae Harish Salve for “urgent second generation” reforms, including advancing Euro IV and levying cess on purchases of private-owned diesel vehicles to check growing air pollution in Delhi. Mr. Salve had submitted that the situation in Delhi has become worse with growing particulate substances in the city’s air which had started causing severe respiratory diseases to people.

“Delhi has lost the gains made through the introduction of clean fuel, CNG as current pollution levels are high and toxic. It is clear that the city needs to do urgent, drastic and long-term second-generation reforms to reduce this burden,” he had said.

MoEF suggests ban on diesel vehicles, plying of private cars on alternate days and allowing only BS-III and BS-IV vehicles