CITY CHOKES ON DIESEL 

Authorities in Patna have finally woken up to the evils of old and polluting vehicles. The road transport authority (RTA) of Patna division in its meeting held on Thursday decided to stop the operation in the city of commercial diesel vehicles that are more than 15 years old.

According to estimates of the Patna district transport office, around 43,500 such vehicles are running in the state capital. Sources claimed that out of the 375 buses being run under the City Service Mini Bus Seva, around 100 are older than 15 years. A few hundred autorickshaws and six-seaters are also more than 15 years old. ( See chart)

"Permits are not being issued to operate commercial diesel vehicles in Patna from 2014 but a number of vehicles are still running on older permits which are still to expire," said a member of the Patna RTA, who was present in the meeting held on Thursday. "The operation of such vehicles could not be stopped due to some litigation in Patna High Court. However, considering the alarming level of pollution in the city, it was decided in the last meeting that such old commercial diesel vehicles will not be allowed to operate in the town area in Patna. A final order in this regard would be issued by state transport commissioner next week."

With the RTA decision, several operators are thinking of running these vehicles in other cities.

"A few operators are already running their buses in neighbouring towns, including Hajipur, Bihta and Chapra," said Umesh Singh, general secretary of Nagar Seva Mini Bus Owners' Association, Patna. "Others also would now shift their buses and autorickshaws to other towns as they cannot simply dump the vehicles."

Transport minister Chandrika Rai said vehicles more than 15 years old, including autorickshaws and buses, are not being issued fresh permits in Patna.

The state transport authority in its meeting on July 15, 2013, took a decision to stop the operation of buses, tempos, autorickshaws and school buses more than 15 years old in the Patna town area.

The decision was taken in the light of an order given by the Supreme Court in 1998 banning the plying of commercial vehicles and cars more than 15 years old.

Later, during a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh on December 21 last year, the transport department was instructed to bring a proposal before the state government at the earliest to prohibit movement of such vehicles in the Patna town area. A similar decision was taken during the review meeting of the forests department headed by the chief minister on December 23 last year.

"Most vehicles more than 15 years old in the city are diesel-driven and emit higher levels of soot particulates, including PM10 and PM 2.5, and nitrogen oxide," said a senior official in the Bihar State Pollution Control Board.

SUV relief

Chandrika told The Telegraph that his department is not considering prohibiting the registration of new privately owned diesel-operated sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in Patna as of now.

During a meeting held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh on December 21 last year, the transport department was instructed to bring a proposal before the state government to seek approval on prohibiting registration SUVs of 2000cc and above capacity and two-wheelers having engines more than 200cc.

"The department is not working on any such proposal as of now," Chandrika said on Saturday.