NEW DELHI, MARCH 28: The environment authority, appointed by the Supreme Court to control pollution in the Capital, today asked the Delhi Government to implement its decision regarding the phasing out of 15-year-old commercial vehicles from the city roads. Earlier, the State Government had said that it would phase out the older vehicle, but later reneged on its decision just before the elections.The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority also suggested that some of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses should be converted to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Moreover, to check the burgeoning vehicular pollution, the Authority called for speedy action on the mass rapid transport system. At a meeting of the Authority - headed by Bhure Lal and comprising of Central Pollution Control Board Chairman D K Biswas, Transport Commissioner Kiran Dhingra and Environmentalist Anil Agarwal - with the Delhi Government officials, it was decided to have decentralised facilities for waste water andsolid waste collection. Moreover, Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to do the same. He also promised to take up the matter of improved fuel quality with the Petroleum Ministry.
To tackle the large quantities of flyash produced by the three coal-based thermal power stations, the Authority said that the brick manufacturers should be allotted land close to the plant to utilise the waste product. However, the proposal is with the DDA for clearance. The environment authority was constituted in January 1998 to monitor implementation of the white paper on pollution in Delhi.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
