[sustran] Delhi wants fewer cars on road, but bus fleet declines

Vinay Baindur yanivbin at gmail.com
Sat Jan 21 00:04:47 JST 2017


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/delhi-wants-fewer-cars-on-road-but-bus-fleet-declines/article9490773.ece



Delhi wants fewer cars on road, but bus fleet declines
OUR BUREAU
[image: Only 336 buses were added to the number of public buses across
India — rising to 140,497 in 2014-15 from 140,161 in the previous year -
Photo: VV Krishnan]
Only 336 buses were added to the number of public buses across India —
rising to 140,497 in 2014-15 from 140,161 in the previous year - Photo: VV
Krishnan

CSE report says 30% of Indian land degraded
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 19:

Alarming levels of urban pollution across India, particularly in the
national capital, have seen the onus being put on citizens, who are being
asked to give up use of private vehicles in favour of public transport.
Yet, the number of state-run buses in Delhi actually took a dip in 2014-15.

According to the State of Environment 2017 report by the Centre for Science
and Environment, Delhi’s bus fleet stood at 5,341 in 2013-14, which fell by
364 to 4,977 in 2014-15.
*Bus addition*

Further, only 336 buses were added to the number of public buses across
India — rising to 140,497 in 2014-15 from 140,161 in the previous year.

Meanwhile, the sale of private cars has gone up by 300 per cent between
2000 and 2015, with over 1.5 lakh cars being registered in the city every
year. In the year 2000, just over 79,000 cars were registered.

“The country, on an average, has just two buses for every 1,000 people,
which only shows the poor state of public transport system. However, the 46
state-run bus services in the country have losses to the tune of ₹10,810
crore till date,” the report notes.

The report also finds that there has been a 9 per cent dip in the number of
people using state-run buses in the past five years.
*Alarming figures*

The report paints a disturbing picture of declining environmental health of
the country from uncontrolled rapid urbanisation — 26 of 29 states have
reported a rise in area undergoing desertification in the past 10 years and
almost 30 per cent of India is degraded.

As many as 69 major floods were reported between 2000 and 2015, most of
which were directly linked to loss of water bodies. No fewer than 5,156
environmental crime cases registered in 2014 and 2015, even though its one
of the least reported crimes.

“In nine states, around 40 to 70 per cent of land has undergone
desertification,” the report said. Desertification of land has a direct
impact on farm produce and with the country’s burgeoning population and
uneven development, this has serious consequences.
*Poor implementation*

The report highlights a mismatch between the government’s announced intents
and actions. The Bill for Compensatory Afforestation Funds has been passed,
but rampant violation of Forest Rights Acts continue; scheme to issue soil
health cards was launched in 2015 to combat desertification, but only 23
per cent of the target has been met.

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana was launched in 2014 for development of villages
but 80 per cent of the Members of Parliament are yet to identify villages
under the scheme; and only 40 per cent of the Member of Parliament Local
Area Development Funds have been spent.


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