New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) has told the National Green Tribunal that its role regarding curbing of vehicular emissions is "limited" and confined to framing of air quality standards.
"The role of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change is limited to evolving/framing air quality standards under the mandate of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
"In the present context, it is submitted that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the authority concerned, as per business allocation rules, administering the Motor Vehicles Act and the rules framed for vehicular emission standards under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988," the ministry said.
The submissions came in an affidavit filed by MoEF Special Secretary Shashi Shekhar in pursuance to Tribunal's directions to submit suggestions to curb air pollution in the capital.
The ministry said that the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) has been notified by it on November 16, 2009 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 based on the studies undertaken by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in association with Indian Institute of Technology- Kanpur.
"The ministry has consulted the state governments of National Capital Region (NCR) viz Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan on April 6 and 13 under the chairmanship of Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and prepared an action plan.
"The plan includes --vehicles without pollution under control (PUC) certificate will be challaned, lane disciplined will be maintained, congestion due to breakdown of vehicles on the roads shall be minimised, U-turn facility shall be provided at the entry gate of inter-state border, congestion due to water logging will also be curbed," the affidavit said.
The ministry has further said that "coal-based industrial units (18 units) will be converted into environment friendly fuel (CNG/LPG) based units, monitoring conditions stipulated in environmental clearance for construction and demolition activities and ensure compliance for pollution control, installation of ambient air quality monitoring stations and an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to detect the movement of the non destined vehicles shall be provided."
The tribunal on May 1 extended till May 18 a stay on its order banning plying of diesel vehicles which are over 10 years old in Delhi-NCR, bringing relief to public utility services and private owners.
It also directed Delhi government, Petroleum Ministry, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Urban Development and other public authorities to submit their suggestions on methods to reduce vehicular pollution within two weeks.
