`Delhi’s Achilles’ heel, pollution’

“Two decades ago, Delhi used to be the pride of those who live here and the envy of those who don’t. That is no longer true. The reason behind this is nothing but pollution.” Dikshit exhorted the automobile industry to look more at social commitments rather than profits. Initiated by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Transport Department, Government of NCT, USAID and ICICI, the project plans to use the experience garnered in this project in other cities too.

Speaking on the occasion, Dilip Biswas, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board said that 30 to 40 per cent of pollution can be reduced by proper inspection and maintenance programmes. He cautioned that pollution under control checks have several loopholes. For instance, “if the pollution-checking instrument is kept in the sun for long, its calibration becomes defective”. Moreover, according to Biswas, the entire procedure doesn’t get to the root of the problem. For instance, the motorist does not know which component is not functioning properly — and therefore causing pollution — and requires to be changed, Biswas explained. Transport Minister Parvez Hashmi assured that three more diesel checking centres will soon be set up in the Capital. At present, there is just one such centre in Burari.