The budget indicated the government's intention to promote cleaner fuel,such as hydrogen and electricity, for the automobile industry, which witnessed 30% growth in 2010. The sector had been severely criticised by environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who termed diesel and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) as polluting India's urban air.
However, there was no increase in duty on SUVs, which Sunita Narain, Director Center for Science and Environment termed “unacceptable". Kirit Parekh, former member of the Planning Commission and chairperson of the expert group on low carbon strategy for inclusive growth said, “The measures will certainly help in reducing urban air pollution, but I am not sure on what sort of impact it will have on India's (climate change causing) green house gas inventory."
The country's urban air quality has deteriorated rapidly in the past five years, with road development not at par with the rate of vehicular growth.
Mukerjee, who had earlier provided funds for 15,260 low floor buses, has proposed additional funds for development of metro networks, an alternative to use of personal vehicles in cites such as Chennai, Kolkatta and Bangalore. However, for Delhi and Mumbai metros, the Central assistance has been reduced. Read the full report here.
Source: HT correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
