Pollution Certificates to Be Made Mandatory for Refuelling Vehicles

Environment-related Issues

Source: The Indian Express

Context:

A Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate would be required for refilling at petrol outlets in Delhi in the near future, according to reports.

It is anticipated that the government would release a draught notification in this respect and ask for public comment on it.

Vehicle owners will be asked to bring their PUC certificate with them to the gas station, If it is discovered to be invalid, a new certificate will have to be issued.

As part of the policy's implementation, the government is also considering using radio frequency identification (RFID) to check PUC certificates in order to avoid long lines at gas pumps.

About:

North India, especially Delhi, suffers from severe air pollution, which is exacerbated during the winter months.

As a result of the implementation of this policy, vehicles will be required to bring their PUC certificate to the gas station in order to fill up.

The amounts of pollution emitted by each and every vehicle will be monitored on a regular basis.

In addition, the policy will effectively assist us in ensuring that polluting vehicles do not operate in Delhi, allowing residents to breathe cleaner air.

What causes the increase in air pollution that occurs every year in October?

Withdrawal of Monsoon:

The month of October is traditionally associated with the withdrawal of monsoons in Northwest India. During the monsoon season, the wind is most often found blowing from the east. These winds, which originate in the Bay of Bengal and travel across the country, transport moisture and bring rain to this region of the country.

Since monsoon season has ended, the prevailing wind direction has shifted to the northwesterly direction.

Also during the summer months, the wind blows from the northwest, and storms transport dust from Rajasthan, and occasionally Pakistan and Afghanistan, to the region.

The wind blows from the northwest in Delhi during the winter, according to a peer-reviewed study undertaken by experts at the National Physical Laboratory. The remaining 28 percent originates from the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Drop-in temperature:

In addition to the shift in wind direction, the drop in temperature is also a contributing factor to the increasing levels of pollution.

If the temperature falls below a certain threshold, the inversion height, which is defined as the layer beyond which pollutants are unable to dissipate into the upper atmosphere, decreases. It is during this period that the concentration of contaminants in the air increases.

Temperature

Wind speed:

While high-speed winds are extremely effective in dispersing pollutants, temperatures in the winter are lower than in the summer, which means that the wind speed is lower overall.

This region is particularly vulnerable to pollution as a result of the confluence of these weather conditions.

Air quality deteriorates even further when factors such as farm fires and dust storms are added to already high levels of base pollution in the city.

Other significant causes of pollution in Delhi include :

Because of the dry, cold weather, dust is prevalent throughout the region, which does not see many rainy days between October and June.  Water pollution: Because of the dry, cold weather, water pollution is prevalent throughout the region.

It was discovered that dust pollution contributes to 56 percent of PM 10 and 59 t/d of particle pollution, with road dust accounting for 38 percent of PM 2.5 concentration, according to an IIT Kanpur research report.

Vehicle pollution is the second most significant source of pollution during the winter months.

 According to the IIT Kanpur study, automotive pollution accounts for 20% of PM 2.5 emissions during the winter months.

Temperatures and humidity: The quantity of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air increases significantly during November, as compared to October and September temperatures and humidity. NO2 is emitted solely by combustion sources, with the majority of it coming from automobiles.

Environmental Management in India:

Many environmental protection and improvement laws have been enacted by the Indian Parliament to protect and improve the environment.

The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 is an act that protects wildlife.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 is a piece of legislation that addresses the issue of water pollution.

Act for the Conservation of Forests (Conservation of Forests) (1989).

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 is a piece of legislation that governs air pollution prevention and control.

The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 is a federal law that protects the environment.

The Constitution (forty-two amendments) of the Act of 1976 also had two significant clauses, namely: Article 48-A and Article 51-A. (g)

Steps to Take Moving Forward:

Air pollution in the nation's capital is a serious problem that requires the cooperation of both the government and the general public.

All of the relevant legislation should be enforced, and the government should see to it that they are effectively executed.