India, Aug. 31 -- Large commercial vehicles, including goods carriers and buses, account for 74-80% of PM 2.5 and PM 10 in Howrah and Kolkata

The West Bengal government has been dillydallying about phasing out old commercial vehicles (CV), despite finding out that large CVs contributed the most to vehicular pollution in the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata. Goods carriers and buses contributed three-fourths of total vehicular pollution, found a recent study.

The government has put the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as an excuse. But environmental experts and activists said the contention did not hold much water as the phasing out of old commercial vehicles was directed by the Calcutta High Court more than a decade ago. ...