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Displacement of over twenty years old vehicles mulled
KATHMANDU, NOV 22 - A six-member recommendation committee comprising transportation entrepreneurs, automobile dealers and an environmental engineer was formed today to recommend the government on the displacement of two-stroke vehicles and vehicles more than twenty years old.
The committee will prepare a report within 15 days and submit it to the government. Similarly, an advisory committee was also formed to guide the recommendation committee.
The members of the recommendation committee include Krishna Prasad Adhikari of Nepal Transportation Entrepreneurs Federation, Narayan Kafle and Rashmi Singh Rana from Society of Environmental Journalists, Ashok Uprety of Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), Tulsi Maharjan of Lalitpur Minibus Association and Kumar Thapa.
This comes after the government’s decision three years ago, to displace two-stroke vehicles and vehicles more than twenty years old as the root cause behind the increasing pollution in the valley. The government had decided to displace the vehicles all at once.
Earlier, Rohini Thapaliya, president of NADA said, "The displacement of vehicles all at once will create a vacuum which will result in an inconvenience to commuters and owners. The best way to solve this problem is to take the step phase-wise."
He also said that the cause of pollution was not just two-stroke vehicles and vehicles more than twenty years old but adulterated fuel.
Stating that inexperienced driving has led to the increase in accidents, Thapaliya advised the government to establish a scientific driving school. "And we are ready to provide a helping hand to the government in this regard."
Minister for Population and Environment Buddhi Man Tamang said the vehicles must be displaced. However, he said recommendations from the committee would be taken as a guideline in making future plans and policies.
Bishnu Shivakoti, president of the Nepal Transportation Entrepreneurs’ Association, said the policy to displace the aforementioned vehicles was brought in haste and thus this delayed its implementation. He also went on to say that the government should make policy that would not allow petrol pumps to sell kerosene.
"The provision to let petrol pumps sell kerosene has heightened the cases of fuel contamination. This should be stopped immediately," Shivakoti said. In case this demand of ours is not met we will go into indefinite vehicle strike all over the kingdom," he threatened.
He further said mechanism to check the pollution of the new vehicles should be made before they are allowed to enter in the country.Posted on: 2003-11-21 10:58
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