Following the improvement in air quality in the national capital, BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel car owners will be able to drive their vehicles in Delhi from Monday, January 6. On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) suspended the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 3 measures in Delhi. Which bans the use of BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles to reduce pollution. The Centre’s panel monitoring Delhi’s pollution levels was forced to bring back GRAP Stage 3 restrictions on Friday, January 3, after air quality index (AQI) levels spiked due to rising pollution in the city.
On the evening of January 5, CAQM announced its decision to lift the ban on BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles. The decision was taken after AQI in Delhi reached 339 points, which is considered ‘very poor’. According to the GRAP stages, the two most extreme measures are implemented to reduce the pollution levels. In which the movement of polluting vehicles including diesel-powered commercial vehicles is banned. Delhi’s AQI has been ‘very poor’ or above in recent weeks, prompting CAQM to impose these strict measures three times in three months.
Under the new GRAP 3 norms, BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel vehicles are banned from plying in Delhi-NCR. However, these restrictions do not apply to passengers with disabilities. All non-essential BS 4 diesel-powered commercial vehicles have also been banned from plying on the roads of the national capital during this phase. GRAP Phase 2 of the response plan does not ban the use of private BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel-powered cars.
Plan to free Delhi from pollution
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has recently promised to make Delhi free from pollution in the next five years. He has announced an investment of Rs 12,500 crore to develop the national capital’s transport network and reduce pollution levels in the coming days. “Our government brought electric buses, cars and scooters because 40 per cent of Delhi’s pollution is due to fossil fuels. We also brought CNG (vehicles) and we will make Delhi pollution-free in 5 years,” he said.
Delhi Pollution: Do not ignore these things
Removing the ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel cars does not mean that all vehicles compliant with emission norms will be allowed to run. Petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel cars older than 15 years will remain under the scanner of Delhi Traffic Police. They can be confiscated and heavy fines can be imposed on the owners. It is also important to note that to avoid detection, vehicle owners must also hold a valid pollution control certificate. Failure to do so may result in a fine of Rs 10,000.
