This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/31/delhi-driving-restrictions-car-ban-pollution-india
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Delhi driving restrictions in force from New Year's Day in bid to clear pollution | Delhi driving restrictions in force from New Year's Day in bid to clear pollution |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Delhi is to implement a fortnight-long driving ban that will take more than a million private cars off the road from New Year’s Day in an experiment critics say falls far short of what is needed to lower the Indian capital’s lethal pollution levels. | |
| For two weeks from Friday, only alternate-day travel will be permitted between 8am and 8pm for private cars with odd- and even-numbered licence plates, while thousands of trucks carrying commercial goods will be discouraged from driving through the city. | For two weeks from Friday, only alternate-day travel will be permitted between 8am and 8pm for private cars with odd- and even-numbered licence plates, while thousands of trucks carrying commercial goods will be discouraged from driving through the city. |
| But the local government’s first major effort to clear Delhi’s air – the most polluted in the world, according to the WHO in 2014 – has been criticised by those who say sweeping exemptions render it inadequate. | But the local government’s first major effort to clear Delhi’s air – the most polluted in the world, according to the WHO in 2014 – has been criticised by those who say sweeping exemptions render it inadequate. |
| The measure’s focus is on restricting passenger cars which, critics point out, account for only 10% of the air pollution. Moreover, 27 categories of motorists are exempt, including all female drivers, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and his ministers. | The measure’s focus is on restricting passenger cars which, critics point out, account for only 10% of the air pollution. Moreover, 27 categories of motorists are exempt, including all female drivers, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, and his ministers. |
| Delhi kids have the lungs of chain-smokers | Delhi kids have the lungs of chain-smokers |
| Goods vehicles, which contribute 30%, will also be regulated. But more than 5 million motorcyclists have been spared, for fear their numbers would swamp the already over-burdened bus and metro system. | Goods vehicles, which contribute 30%, will also be regulated. But more than 5 million motorcyclists have been spared, for fear their numbers would swamp the already over-burdened bus and metro system. |
| “This is just a beginning,” said Delhi’s state chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal. “We’ll have to undertake even sterner measures in the future to safeguard our health, and especially our children’s future. It has to become a movement.” | “This is just a beginning,” said Delhi’s state chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal. “We’ll have to undertake even sterner measures in the future to safeguard our health, and especially our children’s future. It has to become a movement.” |
| The most contested exemption is the one for female drivers, which officials say is to ensure women’s security. A court will now decide whether it is discriminatory to allow women to drive around Delhi while some of their male counterparts will be forced to leave their vehicles at home. | The most contested exemption is the one for female drivers, which officials say is to ensure women’s security. A court will now decide whether it is discriminatory to allow women to drive around Delhi while some of their male counterparts will be forced to leave their vehicles at home. |
| Though several factors have contributed to the dirtying of the city’s atmosphere, the authorities are focusing first on reducing car pollution, despite the fact that it has yielded mixed results when tested in other cities around the world. | Though several factors have contributed to the dirtying of the city’s atmosphere, the authorities are focusing first on reducing car pollution, despite the fact that it has yielded mixed results when tested in other cities around the world. |
| While the Indian capital’s public transport system remains inadequate despite a new metro, there has been a surge in the number of private vehicles in recent years. | While the Indian capital’s public transport system remains inadequate despite a new metro, there has been a surge in the number of private vehicles in recent years. |
| Related: Politicians, judges and all women exempt from Delhi car ban | Related: Politicians, judges and all women exempt from Delhi car ban |
| Many of the new cars and sports utility vehicles run on diesel, which is more polluting than petrol. A court has now banned the sale of big diesel cars for three months. There has also been a huge increase in the number of people commuting on motorbikes, which are responsible for nearly a third of the pollution. | Many of the new cars and sports utility vehicles run on diesel, which is more polluting than petrol. A court has now banned the sale of big diesel cars for three months. There has also been a huge increase in the number of people commuting on motorbikes, which are responsible for nearly a third of the pollution. |
| The warning signs have long been there. In 2010 a top cancer institute in India warned in an authoritative report that nearly half of Delhi’s 4.4 million schoolchildren were growing up with irreversible lung damage. None of the recommendations by this government-commissioned study were implemented. | The warning signs have long been there. In 2010 a top cancer institute in India warned in an authoritative report that nearly half of Delhi’s 4.4 million schoolchildren were growing up with irreversible lung damage. None of the recommendations by this government-commissioned study were implemented. |
| “If this goes on, we’ll have a stunted ... population,” said Sanjeev Bagai, a paediatric nephrologist. “Delhi kids have the lungs of chain-smokers.” | “If this goes on, we’ll have a stunted ... population,” said Sanjeev Bagai, a paediatric nephrologist. “Delhi kids have the lungs of chain-smokers.” |
| The air pollution is so pervasive that even the leafy, exclusive neighbourhoods inhabited by the ruling elite have been badly affected. | The air pollution is so pervasive that even the leafy, exclusive neighbourhoods inhabited by the ruling elite have been badly affected. |
| On a recent, smog-filled morning, a reporter, Anjana Om Kashyap, took a portable pollution-tracking machine to the prime minister’s official residence to measure the level of fine particulate matter, called PM2.5, suspended in the air. These particles cause the maximum lung damage. They are smaller than 2.5 micrometers, or 100 times thinner than a human hair. | On a recent, smog-filled morning, a reporter, Anjana Om Kashyap, took a portable pollution-tracking machine to the prime minister’s official residence to measure the level of fine particulate matter, called PM2.5, suspended in the air. These particles cause the maximum lung damage. They are smaller than 2.5 micrometers, or 100 times thinner than a human hair. |
| Kashyap said she found that the PM2.5 reading outside Modi’s house was 40 times higher than the acceptable Indian standard of 60 – which is more than double the European standard. | Kashyap said she found that the PM2.5 reading outside Modi’s house was 40 times higher than the acceptable Indian standard of 60 – which is more than double the European standard. |
| “Narendra Modi needs to think twice before he steps out in the open every morning at his official residence with his yoga mat,” wrote Kashyap. “That’s because the biggest threat to Modi comes not from any madcap jihadi but from the noxious Delhi air.” | “Narendra Modi needs to think twice before he steps out in the open every morning at his official residence with his yoga mat,” wrote Kashyap. “That’s because the biggest threat to Modi comes not from any madcap jihadi but from the noxious Delhi air.” |