With the state government firm on its stand on ban of all polluting vehicles by the end of the month, various unions in the city have already started outlining their protest plans.

While the bus, taxi and auto unions are meeting on Wednesday afternoon to decide on a joint stand against the government, the state government has decided to implement the High Court’s decision in advance from July 25.

“We are all meeting on Wednesday to chalk out our protest. The government may have passed a decision but there are more than one lakh jobs at stake and they will all lose their jobs if the state implements the ban,” said Sadhan Das, president of Joint Bus Syndicate.

“We have already submitted a petition in this regard. We are waiting for the court’s reaction,” said Das.

In spite of the High Court’s directive, the transport department has decided to implement the ban a week in advance to make sure that all polluting vehicles are off the roads from August 1.

The state government had issued a notification on July 17 last year banning the existing auto-rickshaws and public vehicles which were over 15 years old.

In the notification the environment department had banned the existing autos with effect from December 31 last year — by that time all the autos had to be converted to four-stroke LPG mode.

The notification had banned public transport vehicles over 15 years old with effect from March 31 this year.

... contd.