UPSC Express

About Remote Sensing-based Monitoring

• Under remote sensing technology, a light source and a detector is placed on the side of the road or at a height to transmit a laser beam.
• The laser beam thus transmitted can measure the exhaust emissions remotely via spectroscopy as vehicles pass by and cross the light path.
• The technology detects the exhaust plume of the vehicles and measure opacity, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide in 0.5 seconds.
• It can record emission rates from thousands of individual vehicles along with speed and acceleration across all driving conditions.
• Further, a camera captures the image of the vehicle’s number plate to identify the make, model, certified emission standard, fuel type, rated power and other details.

Advantages

• Remote sensing helps to detect individual high-emitting vehicles.
• It can help improve compliance in cases of tampering of emission control systems by the vehicle owner.
• As a result, there is no scope of fraud like in the PUC system.

Background

Comprehensive Action Plan and Vehicular pollution

• In its Comprehensive Action Plan, EPCA has identified 5 key sources of air pollution in Delhi

1. Vehicles
2. Combustion in power plants and industries using dirty fuels, like pet coke, coal and biomass
3. Garbage burning, both in landfills and other places
4. Dust management on roads, construction sites etc
5. Crop residue burning

• Primarily the Comprehensive Action Plan provides for a compliance strategy for Delhi and NCR to meet clean air standards.

Actions to reduce vehicular emissions

• For New Vehicles
  • Implementation of BS VI fuel and emission standards.
  • Expand CNG programme across NCR including introduction of H-CNG.
  • Introduce battery operated vehicles in targeted segments of two-wheelers, three-wheelers and buses.
  • Install vapour recovery systems to reduce benzene emissions in NCR.
• For Vehicles on-road
  • Tighten PUC norms for post-2000 vehicles
  • Link PUC certificates with annual vehicle insurance to ensure 100 per cent compliance
  • Divert truck traffic
• Strategies to reduce vehicle numbers on roads
  • Improve Public transport.
  • Augment the service of Metro for carrying more passengers
  • BRTS to be implemented in targeted high frequency routes.
  • Fare integration and common ticketing by introducing common mobility cards.
  • Prepare and implement zonal plans for developing a Non-motorized transport network.
  • Parking policy to reduce congestion and pollution.
  • Traffic management: Introduce early alarm system during traffic congestion.