Breathless

pollution from vehicles in Delhi may increase by nearly 85 per cent by the year 2010, according to a survey conducted by a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation (ngo), Vatavaran. It shows that the pollution level may go up to 85 per cent by the year 2010 as against 72 per cent in the year 2000. About 52 per cent of cars have emission above the per-missible level.

Almost 98 per cent of tempos and trucks have been found to be polluting. During the survey, the ngo found that Delhi air contained 310.57 metric tonnes (mt) of hydrocarbons, 651 mt of carbon monoxide, 86 mt of lead and 126.46 mt of nitrogen dioxide. Nearly 82 per cent of taxis and about 94 per cent of private buses and Delhi Transport Corporation buses have been found to be polluting.