NEW DELHI: Environment minister Gopal Rai and some officials from the transport department conducted a surprise inspection at ISBT Kashmere Gate on Saturday. During the inspection, they found that despite the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) III curbs in place, BS-IV diesel buses from neighbouring states were entering Delhi.
Diesel buses of BS-IV or lower standards are banned from entering Delhi under GRAP-III restrictions, which were implemented by Commission for Air Quality Management from Friday onwards.
Rai stated that the enforcement team of the transport department issued challans to such diesel buses of the Haryana and Uttarakhand govts.
"BJP govts are propelling Delhi's air pollution; despite the ban, BS-IV diesel buses are being sent to Delhi," Rai said, adding that "30% of Delhi's pollution is due to local sources, while 70% is attributed to sources in NCR states."
Rai criticised BJP govts of neighbouring states, alleging that they were deliberately sending the diesel buses to increase pollution in Delhi. The minister claimed that the diesel buses arriving in Delhi from Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh were leading to increased pollution.
Rai further stated that 84 teams from the transport department and 280 teams from the traffic police had been deployed to enforce the ban.
"BS-III and below diesel light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will not be permitted to enter the city. However, vehicles carrying essential goods and providing essential services are exempted. Only electric buses, CNG buses and BS-VI diesel buses from NCR will be allowed to enter interstate terminals. Any violations of these rules will result in a fine of Rs 20,000," he added.
Delhi BJP alleged that AAP-led govt was making empty remarks instead of focusing on concrete pollution control measures. "It is shameful that Rai neither discusses stubble burning with Punjab govt nor addresses road repair issues with his govt's PWD and municipal corporation. Yet, he finds ample time to visit bus depots and engage in political theatrics by stopping a couple of interstate diesel buses," said Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva.
Sachdeva asked govt if it had made any arrangement to prevent the entry of diesel vehicles into Delhi. "If nothing else, Delhi govt could have at least installed prohibition boards for diesel vehicles at borders," he added.
The Delhi BJP president said that the two major causes of pollution in Delhi were stubble burning and dust & debris from broken roads. "Daily media reports and departmental data show that 30% of Delhi's rising pollution is caused by smoke from Punjab's stubble burning," he added.
Meanwhile, Delhi Traffic Police issued around 550 challans in the city, imposing a total fine of over Rs one crore, to BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles on Friday, officials said.
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