Delhi pollution: EPCA suggests ban on private vehicles without CNG

Concerned over the worsening quality of air in the national capital, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority on Wednesday advised a ban on all the private vehicles without compressed natural gas (CNG) in Delhi.

In a letter to the Central Pollution Control Board, EPCA chairman Bhure Lal suggested that the government should look at "either a complete ban on all private vehicles (without the identification of petrol or diesel), other than CNG and/or restriction on plying by number plate (odd-even)."

"I am also aware that any restriction on plying of private vehicles, without adequate public transport creates huge inconvenience to people. It is for this reason that EPCA for the past many years has stressed on the need for augmentation of public transport, not just in Delhi but in the NCR region," he further stated in the letter.

After receiving light showers on early Wednesday morning, the air pollution level in the national capital has further worsened due to an increase in the moisture.

The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) recorded the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of New Delhi at 419 at 8:30 am as compared to 397 during the last corresponding period.