Check Fuel Quality Too

The polluting three wheeler Vikram tempos were driven out from the streets of Kathmandu by a government decision from yesterday (Saturday). It was a bit easier for the government to take this tough step in controlling the alarming level of air pollution in Kathmandu Valley, because it had the support of the people. Most of the people agreed that the Vikram tempos should definitely be banned. Everyone could see even through the naked eyes, that these three wheelers were one of the biggest culprits in increasing air pollution.

But one immediate problem that the people have felt as soon as the Vikrams have been taken out of the streets, is the absence of a convenient transport. For, in spite of all its drawbacks, the Vikram three wheelers were an easy mode of transport for the thousands of commuters in Kathmandu. There were no corners of the City, where these tempos did not travel to and reach the people. So everyone found the Vikram tempos convenient and more importantly, easy on the pocket. So the problem now is, what are these commuters to do? The government run Sajha buses do not go to all places and their services are too few and far in between even in the fixed routes. Then the privately owned minibuses are crowded and uncomfortable, specially for women and children. So most agree that there is an immediate need to find an alternative to the Vikram tempos.

Here, the government has done well by giving different concessions to the owners of the three wheelers, so that they can buy virtually pollution free micro buses and continue with their trade. This is a good decision. But the problem seems to be that it will take a lot of time for such buses to arrive here. This is a crucial period when the people’s support is needed to make the pollution control campaign of the government successful. So it would be pragmatic, if the government appealed to the people to bear with it, until the new buses arrive. But this, it has not done. It would have been better if such alternatives to the tempos had arrived before the polluting vehicles were removed, then the absence of the same might not have been felt. However now that the slip up has been made in not finding an alternative first, the authorities have to seek the help of the people in general, who will have to bear the inconvenience.

Furthermore, like we have mentioned before, the government must show a political will to check the quality of fuel as well. Many experts have reported that no matter how good a condition a vehicle may be in, the pollution level automatically goes up as soon as a compromise is made in the quality of fuel that it takes in. For example, when checked, even a spanking new Mercedez of the Prime Minister failed a pollution emission test. It is history now that once the authorities had taken a step to check the fuel at different petrol pumps in the Valley. But the owners had countered the move of the government by going on strike and virtually crippling life in the City. So after several days of stalemate, it was the government which backed down and nothing came out of the government move. Now, apart from checking the quality of fuel, the government should also phase out other polluting vehicles, though not through a blanket decision, but through separate checks. The pollution of Kathmandu can be controlled, but the government, the opposition parties and the people all will have to work together and not against each other in fulfilling this objective.