Paediatric surgeon files an affidavit urging NGT not to stay diesel vehicle ban in NCR

NEW DELHI: Days ahead of a crucial hearing by National Green Tribunal, paediatric surgeon Dr Sanjay Kulshrestha filed an affidavit, appealing it to not stay the ban on diesel vehicles that are over ten years old in National Capital Region. The affidavit is in response to a petition against high air pollution levels in Delhi in which NGT ordered diesel vehicles more than ten years old be phased out but later ordered a stay on that ban.

The Union ministry of road transport is opposing the ban in NGT; it has not only claimed that old diesel vehicles are responsible for a miniscule amount of PM2.5 emissions but also submitted scientific papers by IIT Delhi to argue that the transport sector is not the worst offender.

Dr Kulshrestha in his affidavit said that vehicular pollution is not only responsible for PM2.5 but also other pollutants--nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and benzene. Kulshrestha's original petition was against poor air quality that is reportedly causing congenital defects in newborns.

"People are exposed to a mixture of pollutants whose combined effect has a serious health impact. The benefits are greater when pollution sources are regulated for multi-pollutants," the affidavit said. "Diesel is now proved to be a direct cause of lung cancer as for the first time WHO and International Agency for Research on Cancer declared 'direct diesel fumes' as a major carcinogenic factor."

Kulshrestha pleaded that 10 per cent ethanol blending be implemented to counter effects of diesel and petrol. "We have only 2-2.5 per cent ethanol blending in India against a target of 10 per cent... in countries like Brazi 25 per cent blending is mandatory ."