Tech to screen trucks at Delhi entry points

The AAP government is in the process of sanctioning Rs 120 crore to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation for installation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system to inspect trucks entering the national capital. The government has already transferred Rs 93 lakh to the SDMC for placing work order to RITES for contractual and technical review of the draft, Request for Proposal (RFP) and Concession Agreement for implementation and installation of RFID system at 13 entry points of the city.

In its status report on the measures taken by various agencies to check air pollution, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for NCR said that the government agencies had collected over '400 crore under the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) till September 30. The government had earlier submitted a report to the Supreme Court about installation of the RFID system for effective and credible ECC collections.

The apex court had asked for the installation of RFID system at 13 entry points from where 80 per cent of the traffic enters the city from the neighbouring states.

The EPCA said that due to strict compliance of the Supreme Court orders, there was a substantial decrease in the number of vehicles entering the city during winter season last year. In EPCA’s estimation, the reduction in the number of vehicles entering Delhi during winter months was roughly 50 to 60 per cent.

“Most importantly, there was visible impact of the imposition of ECC on the air quality of Delhi during the worst months of winter,” the status report said, adding, “This does not mean that pollution is under control or that further steps do not need to be taken. But it does suggest that the imposition of ECC and efforts made to divert trucks from Delhi has been hugely beneficial and must be continued.”

The EPCA said that the prevailing system was prone to leakages as it was based on manual check up of exempted vehicles and cash collection. This, in EPCA’s view can only be checked once the system is upgraded using RFID. The report said there should be strict enforcement on the entry of trucks into the city.