“India’s carmakers and dealers on Thursday called for aclear, nationwide policy to combat air pollution, after a crackdown on diesel cars and trucks in New Delhi, which campaigners have vowed to extend to other cities.
A Supreme Court decision on Wednesday to alleviate the smog-choked capital has unsettled India’s car industry, which says an uneven, haphazard policy makes it hard to plan investments and allows damaging regulatory arbitrage across states.
“To improve the air quality … we must take a comprehensive view of various factors causing pollution,” said Vikram Kirloskar, vice-chairman of Toyota Motor Corp’s local unit.
According to the World Health Organization, 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India. To combat this, the government is debating policies including reducing cars in Delhi or offering cash to drivers who scrap old vehicles.
But the government has yet to announce a holistic policy or target more difficult causes of pollution such as generators or even motorbikes, a family vehicle for millions of middle class Indians. Wednesday’s decision, the Supreme Court said in its order, would not hit “the common man”.” Reuters. Read it on delhiair.org
Indian carmakers call for comprehensive plan after Delhi smog crackdown
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