‘VRS required in petrol, diesel pumps to curb pollution’

The environmental experts have suggested the government to ask petrol and diesel pumps in the city to be equipped with Vapour Recovery System (VRS).

According to various reports by environmentalists across the country, vapours of petrol and diesel are carcinogenic which also causes pollution. There are around 400 petrol and diesel pumps in the city. The quality of air around the Capital’s petrol filling stations has been found to be much below the prescribed standards. It is also heavily laden with cancer causing compounds due to the absence of VRS.

A recent study, conducted by the Centre for Science and Technology (CSE) claims that petrol pumps are a source of toxic benzene emissions that makes them some of the most lethal contributors to Delhi’s air pollution problem. The report says: “These emissions make people who live within a half-kilometer radius of the petrol pump vulnerable to a number of health hazards.” 

“The distinct smell emanating from a petrol station is caused by volatile organic compounds, which have emerged as pollutants of the utmost concern in our study. Whenever a vehicle or an underground tank is being filled up with fuel, these compounds mix in the atmosphere,” Jyotsana Rajan, one of the researchers, said. The toxic fumes in petrol stations can be reduced by installing VRS, a practice followed stringently in the West. While stressing the need of VRS to protect citizens, Sunita Narain, director, CSE said: “Unlike the West, South-east Asia and China, Indian fuel stations don’t have a Vapour Recovery System installed at the fuel stations.” Talking about the risk involved with people working in petrol pumps, an official associated with Central Pollution Control Board said: “The Department of Industrial Safety is responsible for workers’ health at the fuel stations and setting limits for fugitive emissions from petrol pumps.”