Green brigade upbeat over new govt's transport policy

NEW DELHI: Environmentalists are hopeful that the new government in Delhi will take necessary measures to check air pollution. According to advocacy groups, AAP's agenda of providing reliable and comfortable commute to all economic groups will help address the issues of congestion and toxic diesel emissions in the city.
"AAP's has clearly explained its transport plan in the poll manifesto.Autos and e-rickshaws, along with buses and Metro, play an important role in completing the loop. I think the new government can use the Centre's decongestion funds for Delhi. Almost 73% of the proposed decongestion budget is for elevated roads and tunnelled roads. The new government has to ensure that the same is spent on creating walking and cycling infrastructure and space. More signal-free and elevated roads are going to make things worse," said Anumita Roychowdhury, head of CSE's clean air programme.
However, the real challenge for the Delhi government is that how it will implement its transport policy with the help without any friction with the Centre. The same applies to pushing the Narendra Modi government for implementation of superior fuel norms (Euro V) to cut air pollution.
During the 49-day stint of the AAP government, then transport and environment minister Saurabh Bhardwaj had planned to scrap the BRT corridor in GK because of its "flawed" design. But the proposal for implementation of BRT in other parts of the city didn't move forward. Praveen Singh, academic and assistant professor at School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University said the new government can do a lot to deal with air pollution if it wants to. "While the Delhi government's powers are limited and upgrading infrastructure requires huge funds, they can focus on options such as BRT to use their transport budget effectively," he said.

Some experts, however, have voiced concerns the government shouldn't resort to "populist" methods, which may have an adverse impact on the environment in the long run like providing subsidized water and power.
Meanwhile, members of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA) wrote to CM-designate Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday about the DTC depot on the Yamuna riverbed. "During your previous tenure as the CM, you had taken a definitive stand in consultation with the LG, on the relocation of the DTC bus depot. We regret to inform you that the DTC continues to default and violate not only its own commitment made to the high court but also your directions as the then CM as it has taken no steps to vacate the riverbed despite alternative land having been allotted to it by the DDA," the letter states.
Manoj Misra of YJA said the NGT had already made a very detailed judgment laying out a plan for decentralized sewage treatment in a cost-effective manner. "It's self-explanatory. All the new government is to do is to follow the court's order. I am happy that AAP has come to power because they are young and maybe more considerate about environmental issues," he said.