Financial Tribune - Kalantari: The decision to ration gasoline for private cars, cabs …has nothing to do with the torpid campaign against air pollution. Moreover, the surplus revenue from selling fuel at much higher rates is not supposed to be spent on anti-pollution program

Gasoline rationing that started on Nov. 15 will not have any significant effect on curbing air pollution if the temperature is below 15° C, head of the Department of Environment said.

“When the mercury falls below 15° C, diesel-powered vehicles like buses and trucks are among the main culprits contributing to the air pollution,” Isa Kalantari was quoted as saying by ISNA.

He added that the controversial decision to ration gasoline for private cars, cabs, vans…has nothing to do with the limping campaign against air pollution. Moreover, the surplus revenue from selling fuel at much higher rates is not supposed to be spent on anti-pollution programs.

President Hassan Rouhani and his aides have said that the “savings” from higher fuel prices is being given to the people in the form of new subsidies.

On Nov. 14 midnight the government decided to raise gasoline prices and sell it at two rates from. As per a directive issued by the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, private car owners can only buy 60 liters of subsidized gasoline every month at 15,000 rials (13 cents) a liter. Additional purchases cost double. The move is expected to add $2.5 billion to the treasury per year.