Ro-Ro gets NGO green signal; calls for long-term approach to lessen pollution

New Delhi: An environmental NGO has advocated adopting long-term and area-specific approach to curb pollution while lauding the Railways' roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) services to carry loaded trucks on waggons to decongest roads and reduce harmful emissions.

The Greenpeace India said movement of goods through public transport systems such as railways is a cleaner way of transportation compared to the truck-based system.

It said the method will?reduce pollution, curb greenhouse gases emissions and bring down energy consumption.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday launched Ro-Ro service from Gurugram to carry loaded trucks on wagons so as to decongest the roads in the national capital region and tackle the problem of pollution.

"We need to look at not just bypassing Delhi and reducing entry of few trucks to Delhi, but reducing pollution everywhere by adopting long-term and regional approach,"?Sunil Dahiya, Campaigner, Greenpeace India told PTI.

About 66,000 diesel-guzzling trucks pass through Delhi and its adjoining areas every day and the railways' Ro-Ro services aims to reduce carbon emission and road congestion by taking them off roads.

There are eight entry-exit routes in the NCR which will be covered under the Ro-Ro services.

Dahiya said pollution and its impacts are restricted not just to Delhi but affect entire country and specifically all the places across Indo-Gangatic Plains "are polluted to nearly the same level as Delhi".

"So any action to be taken has to have a holistic perspective and long-term and permanent solutions rather than putting bandages over the wounds," he said.

He pointed out that fossil fuel consumption in energy and transportation systems has to be reduced across geographies if the country has to attain clean air and wants to reduce negative contribution to climate change.

About 30 loaded trucks were transported on flat wagons from Garhi Harsuru station in Gurugram to Muradnagar in Uttar Pradesh to mark the launch of the Ro-Ro services.

"The Ro-Ro is a boon for Delhi as it would have a direct impact on its air ambient quality and the capital would breathe clean air," Prabhu said after launching the service.