In a series of measures to check air pollution at petrol pumps, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has directed all the oil companies to ensure installation  of   vapour recovery system  at all the 398-odd petrol pumps  by  March 1 in the national Capital. 

The DPCC has also directed the fuelling stations to take steps for installation of remote sensor based Pollution Under Control (PUC) system by May.

In its order, the DPCC  has also directed  the oil companies to formulate action plan to control decongestion of fuel stations, including  increasing  number of  dispensing machines.  The companies have been ordered to prepare action plan  to check adulteration of fuel  and random  monitoring of  fuel quality data.  They have been also been directed  to prepare an action plan  for transport system which is operating on the  CNG mode in the  city.

Officials said petrol pumps are required to install a system to recover petrol/diesel vapour emitted during unloading of petrol into the underground storage tank.  The Government has given a time line to implement steps to install vapour recovery system within 30 days. Officials said this has been decided at a high-level

meeting chaired by Environment Minister Imran Hussain and Principal Secretary (Environment) Ashwini Kumar with four oil companies and petrol pumps dealers’ association.

Experts said petrol contains volatile organic compounds (VOC) that evaporate inside the fuel tank of a vehicle and fill the space above the liquid fuel. When a vehicle is refueled, these vapours are forced out from the fuel tank by incoming fuel and, unless controlled, escape into the atmosphere through the filler neck of the fuel tank. VOCs from petrol  vapour enhance the formation of ozone and fine particulates in the atmosphere, thus causing smog.

The vapour recovery system helps prevent these emissions from evaporating into the atmosphere. Benzene, an important component of crude oil and petrol, is harmful to humans even at minimal levels. In Delhi, the standard level of benzene should be under 5 IJg/m3 (microgram per cubic metre). The report said it has reached over 50 IJg/m3 in certain areas in the city. VOCs from petrol vapour contains benzene (a carcinogen), thus presenting a potential health risk to the public.  Smell of VOCs can be a nuisance to people nearby.  This has been revealed by a study by the Centre of Science of Environment that claims that petrol pumps are a source of toxic benzene emissions that make it one of the most lethal contributors to Delhi’s great air pollution problem.

The companies which supply petrol and diesel to  fuel stations are Indian  Oil Corporation  limited,  Bharat Petroleum, IBP Co limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation limited.  The DPCC has issued these directions  under section 31 (A)  read with Section 17 (1)  of the Air (Prevention and Control  of Pollution) Act,  1981 regarding prevention,  control or abetment of air pollution  and improvement  of ambient air  quality in the city.

“Whereas ambient air quality in Delhi is poor and pollution levels are way above the prescribed norms for various parameters of ambient air as levels of Particulate Matter (PM10 and MP2.5) exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009.  And whereas serious concerns have been expressed by Supreme Court and Delhi High Court and the National Green Tribunal in the matter from time to time and specific directions have been issued,” the order said.

In May, a World Health Organisation study stated that the Delhi had overtaken the Chinese capital on a most unfortunate metric: Its level of pollution. Delhi is now the most polluted city in the world, with an annual average of 153 micrograms of small particulates, known as PM 2.5. The study was conducted across 1,600 cities worldwide.