The Bombay High Court has taken a significant step in addressing Mumbai’s deteriorating air quality by directing the Maharashtra government to form an expert panel to explore phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles.
This directive, emerging from a self-initiated public interest litigation in 2023, highlights the growing concern over Mumbai’s air pollution woes, which, while not as bad as Delhi, is growing to alarming proportions.
The court’s order, delivered by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Girish Kulkarni, gives the government a fortnight to establish a committee comprising experts and civil administrators to evaluate the feasibility of transitioning from diesel and petrol vehicles to those running on CNG or electricity.
The court’s detailed order, made available on Wednesday, emphasizes that vehicular pollution is a major contributor to the city’s worsening air quality. The bench noted that Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s roads are severely congested, with an alarming density of vehicles that compounds air pollution problems and renders current mitigation measures inadequate.
Beyond vehicular emissions, the court has also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to ensure city bakeries transition from wood and coal to gas or other green fuels within six months, reducing the original one-year deadline.
A Watershed Moment for Urbania and the Environment
The court’s directive represents a watershed moment in India’s environmental policy, particularly for urban centers grappling with severe air pollution. The establishment of this expert panel could set a precedent for other metropolitan areas facing similar challenges. The three-month deadline for the committee to submit its report indicates the urgency of the situation. However, the successful implementation of any recommendations will require careful consideration of infrastructure readiness, economic implications, and social impact.
The directive also includes progressive measures such as prohibiting new approvals for bakeries or similar businesses operating on coal or wood, mandating that new licenses be granted only to establishments using green fuel. Additionally, the court has instructed the installation of pollution indicators at construction sites, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to addressing various sources of air pollution.
Marksmen Daily’s Perspective
While this is a welcome move, it is vital that the powers that be take a nuanced view of this, rather than simply bludgeon everything. For one, there needs to be a unified, nationwide policy with clear timelines for phasing out diesel and petrol vehicles, rather than implementing sporadic, region-specific restrictions. This approach would provide certainty to both manufacturers and consumers, enabling better planning and adaptation. Constant zig-zagging on policy helps no one.
Further, there needs to be a distinction between vehicles adhering to new norms and existing vehicles that are plying under older emission norms. Well-maintained ICE vehicles (including heritage and classic vehicles) meeting current pollution regulations should be permitted to operate without age restrictions. Scrapping millions of roadworthy vehicles that meet pollution norms would be wasteful and potentially counterproductive from an environmental standpoint.
The Way Forward
The implementation of these measures requires a balanced approach that considers both environmental imperatives and practical constraints. For one, we can (and should) realistically target specific categories of vehicles based on emission standards (BS3 and earlier) rather than implementing broad restrictions. The significant improvements in exhaust emissions from BS6 and BS4 diesel cars compared to earlier standards supports this targeted approach.
For this initiative to succeed, it must address several key challenges: developing robust infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles, ensuring equitable application of restrictions across private, commercial, and government vehicles, and creating clear, science-based implementation timelines. The outcome of this panel’s study could set an important precedent for how Indian cities approach the complex challenge of reducing vehicular emissions while maintaining urban mobility and economic vitality.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on February 13, and the findings of this expert panel could potentially reshape Mumbai’s transportation landscape while providing valuable insights for other cities facing similar environmental challenges.