Delhi CM seeks 'cleaner' diesel in city

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has sought supply of 'cleaner' diesel in the national capital to contain vehicular pollution and improve air quality.
    
In a letter to Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, Dikshit said diesel with 350 ppm sulpher content was not helping check pollution levels and demanded diesel with ultra low sulphur content of 50 ppm.
    
"The particulate level in the ambient air is directly proportionate to the sulphur present in the diesel which gets converted to sulphate and impacts the environment adversely," she said.
    
Though the switchover of entire public passenger transport vehicles plying in Delhi to CNG fuel helped contain vehicular pollution, vehicles running on diesel off late have been noticed to be emitting visible smoke. Further, the registration of diesel cars has shown a substantial increase.
    
"This is, beginning to negate the efforts made by (Delhi) Government to provide a clean environment to its citizens," the chief minister wrote.
    
Pricing of diesel lower than petrol coupled with tax benefits, "is now leading to increasing use of this 'poor' person's fuel by the richest car owners," she said.
    
"The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi is of the firm view that corrective measures are needed. For this to happen, it is necessary to have better quality diesel having a low sulphur content of 50 ppm," Dikshit added.