Expired News - World's most polluted city mulls monthly vehicle ban - The Weather Network
Your weather when it really mattersTM

Country

Please choose your default site

Americas

Asia - Pacific

Europe

News
India rejected last year's World Health Organization report that put its capital at the top of the list of cities choked with air pollution, but it's moving to curb the problem all the same.

World's most polluted city mulls monthly vehicle ban


Daniel Martins
Digital Reporter

Saturday, October 10, 2015, 1:37 PM - New Delhi, the city with the world's worst air pollution, is taking a few drastic moves to clear the air.

India rejected last year's World Health Organization report that put its capital at the top of the list of cities choked with air pollution, but it's moving to curb the problem all the same.

The government has announced that cars will be banned from some routes once a month. 

And, potentially more important, the city is introducing a surcharge of up to $20 on commercial vehicles entering the city, including diesel trucks. That's on top of a toll tax the city already charges, according to the Hindustan Times, which reports buses, emergency vehicles and trucks delivering food will be exempt.

That part of the plan faced significant opposition, and it was only this past Friday that the country's supreme court gave officials the green light to proceed.

"Delhi's pollution levels are rising beyond dangerous levels," state Transport Minister Gopal Rai said in an interview with Reuters. "If we don't address this, people will be forced to think about leaving the city to save their lives."

Among other plans the government is considering: Curbing rush hour by staggering office hours so traffic moves in waves, and Rai is urging residents to either opt for bicycles or limit car ownership to one per family.

Banning cars from the road has been implemented in other cities. The Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, South America's largest metropolis, bans cars from the road on certain days, based on license plate numbers.

Air pollution in Canada is typically not at New Delhi levels, but Environment Canada does occasionally have to issue air quality alerts for some areas due to forest fires and urban smog buildup, and a newly released video this week raised some eyebrows about air quality on the Prairies.

SOURCE: Hindustan Times | Reuters

Default saved
Close

Search Location

Close

Sign In

Please sign in to use this feature.