Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'War against pollution' that was published in Newsband

War against pollution

Indian government is serious about cutting noxious emissions. The government is focusing on a clean, green image of the 21st century. For this to happen there should be a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.
The government should address the health crisis that must be tackled now: the air pollution that chokes our cities. Almost all new cars and vans sold should be near-zero emission and ban the sale of all fossil-fuel-dependent cars.

Momentum in electric purchases is building rapidly, thanks to falling costs, longer battery ranges and more charging points, even if the total number of sales remains relatively low; Volvo has said it will make only hybrid or fully electric cars from 2019.

Tens of thousands of people die prematurely each year because of air pollution, and many more experience related health problems. Introducing charges for vehicles to enter clean air zones would be the quickest and most cost-effective way of lowering nitrogen dioxide levels on most urban roads to acceptable rates.

The problem the government has is that the problems are long-term, but their term is only five years, so they have little incentive to take the long view.

Obviously there is a direct correlation between population and pollution. Houses should be built on Green Belt. Most pollution comes from Diesel engines not petrol engines. It makes more sense to ban diesel vehicles but allow petrol vehicles. But keeping older vehicles going is greener than replacing them with new vehicles.

It is easy to be critical and lay responsibility for air pollution at the door of this Government. This is a problem that has crept up on us. What can we do now without creating a riot? - not easy. Ironically a rapid increase in population has increased the pollution problem.

The most urgent and immediate problem is the gross pollution by nitrogen dioxide and particulates of some streets of our towns and cities. People who live and work there just cannot wait much longer for some improvement in these conditions. Environmental groups will be considering their options to help to save the lives of these people.

A range of measures is needed: more and cheaper hybrid cars with drivers only allowed to use the electric side in these streets, more parking areas in big open spaces on the edge of towns with electric transport into towns etc.

The government could do something really meaningful right now - lower the speed limits. Especially in residential areas where a 20mph speed limit would mean that cyclists and motorised traffic would be able to share roads more safely, and pedestrians would be given half a chance too.

Clean air zones may not sound as flashy or exciting as the distant vision but they would mean purer air and healthier residents – Let's all live longer.