Both Petrol And Diesel Cars Face Ban In Mumbai: Panel Formed To Decide

After Delhi, it looks like Mumbai is also planning to put a ban on both petrol and diesel cars. The Maharashtra government has now formed a seven-member committee to study this matter and explore possibilities for banning petrol and diesel vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The authorities want to ban petrol and diesel vehicles and allow only CNG and electric vehicles in the metropolitan region. This decision has been taken to control the worsening air quality of the city.

Other than Mumbai city, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) includes areas in Thane, Raigad, and Palghar districts. The newly formed panel is headed by retired IAS officer Sudhir Kumar Shrivastava. The team will conduct a detailed study and submit a report with findings and recommendations in three months.

The government resolution to conduct this study was passed on January 22 this year. The resolution states that the committee has the power to include experts in this field as fellow members to conduct the study and provide feedback.

All this started when the Bombay High Court decided to start the hearing of a suo-motu PIL on January 9. The court expressed concern over rising pollution and increasing traffic congestion in the region. It also questioned the impact of these issues on the quality of life of people and the environment.

The High Court mentioned that the major cause of pollution in the city is vehicles and stated that the current measures taken by the government to curb pollution are inadequate. After the High Court’s remarks, the State Government decided to form a committee of experts to study whether banning petrol and diesel vehicles is a feasible option. The committee was also asked to examine whether allowing only CNG and electric vehicles in the MMR would be beneficial.

Following this, the government formed the new committee. This is not the first time the Maharashtra government has created a panel like this. Almost two decades ago, the state government constituted the VM Lal Committee to address vehicular pollution in Mumbai. That panel was tasked with identifying pollution sources and their impact on public health. It was also responsible for suggesting ways to reduce pollution.

The newly formed panel consists of a retired IAS officer, the Maharashtra Transport Commissioner, Mumbai’s Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic), the MD of Mahanagar Gas Ltd, the Project Manager of the Maharashtra State Power Distribution Company Ltd. (Mahavitaran), the President of SIAM, and the Joint Transport Commissioner.

If things go according to the government’s plan, there would be a complete ban on petrol and diesel vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. In Delhi, where the NGT rule is applicable, there is no complete ban on petrol and diesel vehicles. The restrictions apply only to petrol and diesel vehicles that are over 15 and 10 years old, respectively.

However, in Mumbai, it looks like the authorities are aiming for a complete ban on these vehicles. We don’t think this would be a wise decision, as it would affect the lives of lakhs of people. We hope to gain clarity when the committee submits its report in three months.

Via: ET