Economic Highlights

New Delhi, 25 July, 2016

No Fuel Is Clean

WHY NOT BAN CNG ALSO?

By Shivaji Sarkar

Various Sarkari regulators like the National Green Tribunal (NGT) are functioning more with enthusiasm and ignoring the basic tenets of law along-with its impact on gradual wealth formation and economic growth.

Undoubtedly, the NGT’s order to Delhi’s regional transport office (RTO) to de-register 10-year-old vehicles is also unscientific. Whereby, its concern is more populist than practical.

Throwing out over 8,2496 (registered in 2015) diesel vehicles and about 5 lakh petrol vehicles every year, going by the 10-year and 15-year scrapping orders, would not only impoverish the country but also fail to solve the pollution problem.

In fact, the numbers would swell to at least 10 crore vehicles a year across the country.

Look at the irony. The NGT order contradicts the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA). Forgetting, that a judicial or quasi judicial body is supposed to adhere to the law of the land.

Indeed, the magistracy does that more appropriately. In its order of 19 July the NGT noted, “It is stated that vehicles are released by magistrates after imposing fine under the MVA and the vehicles surface again on the roads”.

True, there is nothing like clean fuel. And all fossil fuels – coal, petrol, diesel, kerosene and compressed natural gas (CNG) – are “unclean”. Moreover, even electric vehicles’ batteries are polluting. So should we ban any energy-producing substance?

“Natural gas is supposed to be a clean fuel when used in internal combustion engines, right? But, I don't think people realize that what you see (smoke) is perhaps better than what you don't see. No smoke from CNG vehicles,” said Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Director General MO Garg during his address at the Global Green Energy Conclave at Ahmadabad last August.

“Imagine what will be its effect when all the commercial vehicles, such as buses, run on natural gas in Delhi? You can see smoke coming out from diesel engines and tell that it is dangerous. But, nano-carbon particles coming out from vehicles is something we need to look at,” he added for good measure.

Not many are aware that CNG-run buses are harmful for humans as they emit “nano-carbon” particles which can cause cancer, according to a study conducted by CSIR along-with an Alberta University professor, who developed a device to measure and analyze particles emitted by vehicles.

Pertinently, in 2010, the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) source appropriation for air pollution study attributed about 7 per cent of particulate matter pollution from CNG-run vehicles. Of the total pollution, the PM load in the Capital, the study said 52 per cent was because of dust.

Additionally, CNG vehicles contributed about 10 per cent of the total nitrogen dioxide load in Delhi, the CPCB study underscored. Certainly, CNG does not contribute much to PM 10 (which is widely monitored), but it plays an important role in the circulation of smaller particulate pollution of 2.5 and 1 microns.

Alas, these facts which have come from the highest scientific bodies in India and are known to the scientific community have not been disseminated to people, asserted a senior CPCB scientist.

Raising a moot point: Why should not India ban CNG vehicles, if we have to go by the logic of the NGT and courts?

There is no gainsaying the CSIR and CPCB studies reveal how utopian orders are being passed by bodies, which do not function on reality and practicability!

Undeniably, mere euphoria cannot solve problems. Instead, it can hurt the fledgling economy of a country which is struggling to come up. It is possibly also hitting the efforts of political leaders, like Prime Minister Modi, who are trying to take the economy on fast track. Surely such orders take the country back by several decades.

There is yet another aspect. About a month ago, the Civil Aviation Ministry allowed aviation companies to purchase 18-year-old aircraft, instead of 15-year-old, to make air travel easier between smaller cities. Keeping up with US practice where the planes on domestic flights are often as old as 40 years.

Questionably, if these do no cause pollution how can a well-maintained vehicle run on any fuel adhering to Euro IV-VI norms cause it? Unfortunately, the NGT has not studied these aspects. Consequently, it owes an explanation to the nation for its unwise decisions.

Further, another facet is banning old vehicles as they add to pollution but what about the problems of disposal of metallic and toxic substances? It is no secret that cities across the country are facing severe garbage dumping problems. Whereby, abandoning running and efficient vehicles would only add to problems and chaos. It is also goes against the very concept of “Swachh Bharat”.   

Clearly, the quixotic ban orders sometimes of petrol vehicles, sometimes of 2000 cc diesel vehicles, at other times of all diesel vehicles or levying of penal registration charges and utopian parking norms are hitting the automobile industry and users hard.

Sure, the Prime Minister is making efforts to make the country a global automobile production hub as it earns substantial foreign exchange from vehicle exports. Which on an average tantamount to over $ 2 billion earning a year in foreign exchange. Also, an almost similar sum is earned by export of automobile ancillaries and spare parts.

The recent NGT and court decisions have caused uncertainty in the car industry. It hurts the transport and taxi industry and makes travel unnecessarily difficult and costlier.

This is not all. More appalling is that such Tughlaqi orders increase harassment of the common man who already find it difficult to eke out a living. So far they were troubled only by the police. However, the latest order has empowered the RTO officials also bother them.

Thus, to survive the aam aadmi, be he or she a private or commercial vehicle owner, would have to pay “illegal rents” than face deprivation of his hard-earned vehicle.

All in all, stringent impractical orders lead to a parallel economy and severe corruption. There is no denying that the NGT’s concern is real but the solution is unreal. Let the nation follow the standards of maintenance of vehicles the world over.

As per the Motor Vehicle Act, drafted with utmost care and practicability, vehicles are allowed to have registration even after 15 years, if there are in suitable conditions. Let the NGT set those standards in consultation with the automobile industry.

Importantly, it must learn from the aviation industry where four-decade-old aircrafts too are air-worthy. Let no vehicle, unless not maintained properly, be ever scrapped. Therefore, the NGT needs to revise its orders. Thereby, it would not only contribute to the economy but also help in the ease of life and business. ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)