With domestic airlines and high net-worth individuals in InŽdia planning to buy aircraft in huge numbers, the government has finally woken up to the environmental impact of the booming aviation sector. The government has decided to undertake a baseline study in order to ascertain the amount of harmful emissions caused by the burgeonŽing aviation industry. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the ministry of power has been mandated to carry out the study. Sources said the study would try to find out the impact on environŽment and the remedial steps ought to be taken to limit it. The number of aircrafts in the doŽmestic skies is expected to go up to over 1,500 in the next 12 months from the present 500, which will put immense pressure on fuel availability and environment. The move by the government to ascertain the impact of aviation sector on environment is significant, as most of the countries in the European Union have imposed strict emission and noise restrictions on airplanes. While globally the aviation industry contributes around 2% of the total pollution, the sector is already taking on pollution head-on before it gets out of control. Recently, at the third aviation and environment summit in Geneva, 13 organisations including the international airline body IATA, as well as aircraft manufacturers AirŽbus, Boeing and Bombardier, signed a declaration to adopt several strategies against pollution in a campaign against global warming. The declaration also commits the sector to the development and application of new technologies, to fuel efficiency, improvement of air routes, traffic management and airport infrastructure.


Source: Financial Express