Question

Read the following statements and identify the incorrect statement related to the steps taken in Delhi for reducing vehicular pollution?

• A. Use of leaded petrol
• B. Use of low-sulphur petrol and diesel
• C. Use of catalytic converters in vehicles
• D. Application of stringent pollution-level norms for vehicles

Answer 1

The correct option is A Use of leaded petrol

Delhi ranked fourth among the 41 most polluted cities of the world in the 1990s. Air pollution became so serious that a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court of India. Public interest litigation or PIL is the case filed in court of law, for the protection of 'Public Interest.'

Under the directives of the Supreme Court, the Government was asked to take, appropriate measures within a specified time period, during which the following steps were taken to reduce vehicular pollution :

• The fuel used in public transport vehicles were switched from petrol or diesel to CNG - CNG burns most efficiently, unlike petrol or diesel, in the automobiles and very little of it is left unburnt. Moreover, CNG is cheaper than petrol or diesel. It cannot be siphoned off by thieves and adulterated like petrol or diesel.
• Phasing out of old vehicles which did not comply with the standard emissions were banned.
• Use of unleaded petrol.
• Use of low-sulphur petrol and diesel - When fuels having sulfur are burned, sulfur is emitted as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) which is one of the major air pollutants.
• Use of catalytic converters in vehicles - Clean exhaust having non hazardous carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas and water is released from the vehicle.
• Application of stringent pollution-level norms for vehicles.

Even low levels of exposure to lead in fuel is known to cause cardiovascular problems in adults. It also causes adverse reproductive issues in women such as disturbing the menstrual cycle, reducing fertility, etc. So use of petrol containing lead is not recommended. Hence option a is incorrect.