Ban on Petrol, Diesel Cars in Mumbai Region due to Poor AQI? Govt Sets Up 7-Member Committee To Explore
Moneylife Digital Team 28 January 2025
The Maharashtra government has decided to set up a seven-member committee to explore banning petrol and diesel vehicles in the Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR) due to worsening air quality and increasing pollution in MMR. Headed by SK Shrivastava, a retired officer from the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) cadre, the committee is expected to submit its report in three months. It will deliberate on phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles and only allow vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric power, says a government resolution (GR) issued by the government on 22 January 2025.
 
Other members of the committee include: Maharashtra's transport commissioner, Mumbai's joint police commissioner (traffic), the managing director of the Mahanagar Gas Ltd, the project manager of the Maharashtra State Power Distribution Company Ltd (Mahavitaran), and the president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Maharashtra's joint transport commissioner for enforcement-1 will be the committee's member secretary.
 
Earlier this month, the Bombay High Court (HC) initiated a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) to address Mumbai's escalating pollution crisis. A division bench comprising chief justice DK Upadhyaya and justice Girish S Kulkarni directed the state government to form a committee of experts, civil administrators, and traffic management authorities to undertake a study on the feasibility of phasing out diesel and petrol-diesel vehicles in favour of CNG and electric vehicles (EVs).
 
According to a report from Bar & Bench, the HC proposed the phasing out of diesel vehicles and wood and coal-fired kilns (bhattis) used by bakeries as part of its efforts to combat the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai.
 
During the hearing, senior advocate Darius Khambatta, who is the amicus curiae in the matter, highlighted that bhattis used by bakeries were the third-largest contributors to air pollution in Mumbai, with construction sites and red-category industries taking the top two spots. 
 
The Court then raised the possibility of eliminating bhattis used in bakeries.
 
"There are two ideas that you may consider. Bhattis are used by bakers and small food places. We are not sure about the fuel used. According to reports, Mumbai produces over five crore buns annually. This could be a major source of air pollution. Can the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) suggest banning the use of wood or coal for all bhattis in the city? Is there any statutory regulatory regime available for bhattis? Can we impose a condition that new licences will only be issued if they discontinue the use of wood and coal?" the bench asked.
 
The HC also endorsed the idea of real-time pollution monitoring at construction sites. This suggestion came after senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, representing one of the intervenors, shared an example from Bangkok, where construction sites display real-time pollution data. The Court urged the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to adopt a similar approach.
 
The bench also expressed frustration over the state's failure to appoint sufficient staff at the MPCB, despite prior directives to address city-wide industrial pollution.
Comments
s5rwav
2 weeks ago
Frustration by #BombayHighCourt is Not in the Interest of #WeThePeople the Taxpayers & the High Court Must Promptly Direct #DGPMaharashtra for Criminal Prosecution of the Erring Chief Secretary to Govt of Maharashtra for Not Posting Sufficient Staff at Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.
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