Letters: Act wisely and timely

I fully endorse the view expressed in the editorial, "Blaming trucks" (October 13), that a multi-pronged effort is needed to fix the problem of pollution in the national capital. While the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a tax on all diesel-run trucks and light commercial vehicles to restrict their entry into Delhi - and this has got the Supreme Court's nod - the question is will this curb air pollution in Delhi? Who will bear the additional burden of this 'anti-pollution' tax? Transporters? No way. It's only people like you and me, who will have to swallow another bitter pill.

Will any state government or, for that matter, the Centre, dream of limiting the number of vehicles on city roads? India is not like Singapore or the United Arab Emirates. Why not look for a suitable alternative to the highly polluting diesel?

This apart, the construction of bypasses, which would shorten the time of journey across adjoining states, needs to be expedited. Truckers driving vehicles that cause pollution should be barred entry into Delhi.

In India, we tend to choose the easiest way out of any problem, irrespective of its gravity. The editorial also points out that studies on the question of whether trucks alone pollute the air in the capital were never worked or presented before the NGT or the Supreme Court. How can half-baked moves serve any purpose? Let us act wisely and timely.

S Kumar New Delhi

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