Question

Steps taken by the Government of India to control air pollution includes

• A. Permission to use only pure diesel with a maximum of 500 ppm sulphur as fuel for vehicles.
• B. Use of non-polluting 'Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)' only as fuel by all buses and trucks.
• C. Compulsory PUC (Pollution Under Control) certification of petrol driven vehicles, which tests for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
• D. Both B and C.

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both B and C.

Supreme Court of India, under its directives, asked the government to take appropriate measures, including switching over the entire fleet of public transport, i.e., buses, from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG). The Government of India through a new auto fuel policy has laid out a roadmap to cut down vehicular pollution in Indian cities.

More stringent norms for fuels means steadily reducing the sulphur and aromatic content in petrol and diesel fuels. Euro III norms, stipulate that sulphur be controlled at 350 parts-per-million (ppm) in diesel and 150 ppm in petrol. Aromatic hydrocarbons are to be contained at 42 per cent of the concerned fuel. The goal, according to the roadmap, is to reduce sulphur to 50 ppm in petrol and diesel and bring down the level to 35 per cent. Corresponding to the fuel, vehicle engines will also need to be upgraded. It is mandatory for every vehicle owner to carry a valid 'Pollution Under Control' (PUC) certificate, so as to comply with the prescribed emission norms.