SME Times News Bureau | 08 Oct, 2019
Union Minister for
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar said on Monday
that India will move to that Bharat Stage Six (BS VI) norms by April, 2020.
At a Press
Conference in New Delhi, the minister said, “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”.
The Minister 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 with
BS III norms.
Nearly ₹60,000 Cr
were spent on switching over to BS VI fuels.
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 recognized till
2014. In 2015, 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
highlighted that out of 273 days till 30th September in 2019, number of ‘Good’,
‘Satisfactory’ and ‘Moderate’ days were 165 as against 104 in 2016.
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 with
BS III norms.
Nearly ₹60,000 Cr
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 Saturday, 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, he 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”.
The Minster
highlighted that the creation of Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways,
completed at cost of about ₹17000 Cr, has now led to 40000 goods vehicles,
which are not destined for Delhi, to be diverted away from national capital,
leading to a great positive impact on pollution.
Talking of
initiatives relating to e-mobility and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation network,
Shri Javadekar said, 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.
The Minister
also called upon other States to work unitedly in curbing pollution. It
was informed that Delhi alone gets 52MW energy from solid waste management and
waste compost plant is operational.
The closure of
Badarpur Thermal Plant, banning of pet coke and conversion of 2789 Brick kilns
in NCR to Zig-Zag technology has also led to reduction of pollution.
Underlining
the various actions undertaken by the Government to control road and
construction and demolition (C&D) dust, the Minister said emulating the
best dust management practices from Delhi Metro has led to pollution reduction
and presently there is nearly 5 lakh MT waste which is being processed as
Recycled Aggregate/Brick base.