Petrol-Diesel Vehicles in Mumbai: On the instructions of the High Court and the deteriorating condition of air quality in Mumbai city, the Maharashtra government has formed a committee.
In view of the deteriorating air quality of Mumbai, the Maharashtra government may ban petrol and diesel vehicles in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area in the coming days. This is because a 7-member committee has been formed on this issue, which will submit its report on this matter through a study. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) also includes areas of Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. News agency PTI, citing a government proposal of January 22, reported that the committee headed by retired IAS officer Sudhir Kumar Srivastava will study and submit a report with its recommendations within three months. It also includes many other senior officials.
What is the proposal
The Government Resolution (GR) states that the committee is empowered to include experts from the field as fellow members and receive feedback from them. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) also includes neighbouring Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. In fact, while hearing a suo motu PIL on January 9, the Bombay High Court had expressed serious concern over traffic congestion and rising pollution in the city of Mumbai and their negative impact on the quality of life, environment and overall sustainability.
The High Court pointed out that emissions from vehicles are a major source of air pollution, noting that the existing measures to control the number of vehicles and pollution in Mumbai are proving to be inadequate. Acting on the observations of the High Court, the state government has constituted a committee of experts to study and submit a report on the feasibility of banning petrol and diesel vehicles in the MMR and allowing only CNG and electric vehicles.
The government has been given powers to include 100 people as members and receive feedback from them. The decision comes after a PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court earlier this year, following which the state government had constituted a committee of experts to study the feasibility of banning petrol and diesel vehicles.
