Delhi minister wants bans on high emission diesel run buses in Delhi NCR

Delhi's Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, has called on the central government to implement a strict ban on buses using low-quality diesel in the National Capital Region (NCR), which includes areas of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

This plea comes as Delhi grapples with 'very poor' air quality levels. Vehicular emissions have long been identified as a major contributor to Delhi's air pollution problem. While buses in Delhi run on compressed natural gas and electricity, those from the neighbouring states continue to operate using older BS III and BS IV vehicles.

To address this issue, the Centre's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued directives stating that, from November 1, only electric, CNG, and BS VI-compliant diesel buses will be allowed to ply the routes between Delhi and the cities and towns in Haryana, UP, and Rajasthan falling within the NCR.

Gopal Rai emphasized the need for a comprehensive ban on BS III and BS IV buses operating in NCR areas of the adjoining states. The Delhi government will also send notices to the operators of such buses entering Delhi from the NCR regions.

The central government had announced in April 2020 that all vehicles sold in India must adhere to Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) emission standards as part of the efforts to reduce pollution levels.

The air quality in Delhi continued to worsen, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording an 'very poor' average air quality index (AQI) of 325 at 4 pm. Nearby cities had varying AQI readings, with Ghaziabad at 286 ('poor'), Gurugram at 198 ('moderate'), and Noida at 281 ('poor'). Certain areas within Delhi, like Jahangirpuri and Narela, witnessed 'severe' and 'very poor' air quality, respectively, according to CPCB data.

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