Autos - help them to help ourselves

Couple of months ago I read in paper about the government subsidy for auto rickshaws to change from 2 stroke to 4 stroke engine.  I felt that it was wonderful and very pro-active approach to reducing the pollution.   2 stroke engines pollute 4 times more than cars (because of the pre-mix of oil and gas and exhausting some of the mix without burning) and autos with 2 stroke engine would be one of the most polluting vehicles in Bangalore.  Also, since they give less mileage than 4 stroke engine (about 25 to 30% less), I thought it would be good incentive for auto drivers to change.

While travelling in autos in the last couple of months, I have asked several auto drivers why they are not changing to 4 stroke engines and everyone is negative on that subject.   Some of the reasons were

1. It is not compulsory any more
2. We need to pay first and get subsidy later
3. It is difficult to get the loan
4. We still have to put 15,000 after the subsidy and where will we find that kind of money.
5. Some technical reasons – like parts are expensive, not everyone can repair 4stroke engine and that it is heavy etc.

These issues, I feel to some extent, are legitimate concerns of drivers and they may not really have incentive to change the engine.  Based on their economical as well as educational background, you cannot really expect them to be environmentally concerned.  Unless there is absolute necessity like a government order which would mandate them to change, they will not do anything. 

Government for their part think that they have done enough by announcing the subsidy.   Also, they (auto drivers) are a big vote bank and politicians do not want to mess with them.  The only people left would be citizens of Bangalore who have to suffer through this ordeal without any say.  With this stalemate, I am sure that it would take another 5 years before changes will happen.   Meanwhile, the pollution will kill lot of bangaloreans and the others, who unfortunately did not die, will suffer from respiratory diseases and other ailments.

It is time for Public to wake up and take necessary action to improve our own lives as government cannot do everything for us.  There is a need for a new paradigm where we involve ourselves not only in voicing the concerns but also help solve the issues.  In this auto issue, we can help by negotiating with the engine company (I think Bajaj) to give them good discount, facilitating the loans from the bank, speed up the subsidy from the government and provide some incentive to convert the engine sooner than later.  Also, help them change to new meter as well.     

When the IT/BT companies can come together and spend Rs3000 crores for an overhead road, I am sure they will be able to pitch in to improve the air quality in Bangalore by helping autos to get new clean and less polluting engine.  I am sure that this ‘Gandhigiri’ will not go waste as the auto drivers will go easy on us and may come where ever we want to go.