Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Alarmed by rising air pollution levels, the Nitish Kumar government on Monday decided to ban operation of commercial and government vehicles older than 15 years in Bihar. Private vehicles older than 15 years would have to produce fresh fitness certificates. The state government has also decided not to give subsidy to farmers found burning stubble.

The decision came during a review meeting and after the state government assessed pollution levels of Patna, Gaya and Muzaffarpur, which are among the 102 Non-Attainment cities of the country for poor air quality index.

The state government has also decided to set up a state-level committee chaired by the principal secretary, environment, forest and climate change department. The Chief secretary will monitor pollution control measures and their implementation.

The Chief Minister said at the meeting, “Rising pollution level is a matter of serious concern for the country. Bihar has also started facing it. Commercial and government vehicles older than 15 years would not be allowed to ply and private vehicles older than 15 years would have to produce fresh fitness certificates.”

In 2016, National Green Tribunal had ordered deregistration of 10 to 15-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital in a phased manner, citing the toxic emissions.

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