Budget bites on vehicles

Budget 2012 is a mixed bag. It hikes taxes on big cars and SUVs. But the move is incomplete, as it has failed to take steps to stop misuse of diesel fuel subsidy by cars. The Union Budget 2012 has marginally hiked the excise duty on large cars from 22 per cent to 24 per cent. MUVs and SUVs will attract higher duty—up to 27 per cent. But this urgently needs support to discourage fuel guzzling and reduce toxic emissions.

Carcinogenic benzene levels peak in Delhi

Alarmingly high levels of benzene have been reported in Delhi’s air. The levels in some areas like around IGI airport and Civil Lines, exceed the annual standard of 5 microgramme per cubic metre by 2 to 5 times. This is extremely worrying as benzene—a volatile compound of petrol—is a toxic air pollutant and a potent carcinogen. It can be extremely harmful even at trace amounts.

Sops for devil’s engines

With generous dispensing of cheap diesel to rich car owners, the  government has finally turned the market around.  Media is abuzz with the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell’s report. It says the diesel consumption growth rate at 6.4 per cent has outstripped that of petrol at 4.5 per cent. Petrol price hikes have made the fuel price gap gape wider and add to diesel’s lure.

'Chemplast claims about zero liquid discharge false'

Twice in the past five months, residents near Mettur in Tamil Nadu have noticed liquid seeping from under the compound wall of Chemplast Sanmar’s PVC plant into the drain running alongside the wall. There was a terrible smell coming from the drain. The recent rains had flushed out the effluent and due to the gradient, the effluent flooded some fields that had been freshly planted with millets. Residents took water samples both times from the drain. The results from the samples taken in May show high levels of chemicals including carcinogens in the water.