Plan to clean Delhi

NEW DELHI, July 7: If recommendations made by scientists8217; for the action plan on Delhi is accepted, the capital is in for a welcome cleaning up operation. According to the suggestions, restrictions will be placed on autorickshaws and other vehicles, quality of fuel improved and parking made more expensive.

Other measures include improvement in public transport systems, setting up common effluent treatment plants, making compulsory the use of fly-ash bricks, treating urban sewage, door-to-door collection of urban solid waste and restrictions on the use of loudspeakers with a ban on cone-type loudspeakers.

Like all previous environment ministers Saifuddin Soz is only too ready and eager to come out with a comprehensive plan for solving the environmental problems of Delhi, but the crucial test lies in its implementation. 8220;We have suggested some radical measures and would like to see them through as time is running out,8221; said scientists who are preparing the plan.Among these include banning old vehicles from Delhi roads. 8220;We want the government to specify the life of each vehicle and ensure that those that do not meet emission standards are phased out. As of now vehicles of all ages are plying on the streets and polluting the atmosphere,8221; sources said.They have also recommended restrictions on registration of autorickshaws.