Walk Or Cycle For Shorter Distances To Check Pollution:Experts

NEW DELHI, March 22: To check ever increasing pollution, citizens should take up walking or cycling for shorter distances and policy makers must find ways for increasing the use of biomass as alternative source of energy for fueling the engines, experts said here today. "The question is not how many buses but what kind of buses. We will need to look for alternatives for fossil fuels but they may not be met by the solar route alone. In India we are blessed with the natural advantage of being in possession of a huge amount of biomass that can be utilised for generating alternative energy," said Vijay Chhibber, former Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. He was speaking at an event to mark the launch of a book-- titled 'Green Transport'--published by TERI Press. Chhibber said the transportation demand will increase in the future with the growth in economic development and migration of people from the rural to urban areas. NITI Aayog Adviser (Transport) Manoj Singh emphasised on taking up walking or cycling for short duration to save fuel as well as to combat the increasing pollution. "Its the question of the future and civilisation loss. We need to adopt the concept of walking and cycling in our lives to save the planet earth," he said. Rani Iyer, author of the book, said through a video message, "This book was conceptualised keeping in mind the growing needs for 'greener' forms of transport." TERI Director General Ajay Mathur said, "Each transport decision has to be made wisely. We hope that this (book) will create the desired impact in society, particularly in children." 'Green Transport' presents the history and environmental impacts of transportation, while taking a peek at its future. The book explores alternative ways to travel, in other words, green transport. -PTI