NEW DELHI: To curb vehicular pollution in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday ruled that the registration of new diesel vehicles and over-10-year-old diesel vehicles must be stopped till the next hearing, on January 6, 2016.
Hearing a petition, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar observed that in view of the ‘serious contribution’ of vehicular pollution to the air quality of the national capital territory, it was important that the government took a serious view and a decision on whether any vehicle, particularly diesel vehicle (old or new), should be registered.
“As an interim measure, till the next date of posting subject to hearing of all the concerned parties, we direct that diesel vehicles of more than 10 years of age as already directed, as well as new diesel vehicles would not be registered in the NCT,” the bench ruled.
The tribunal also directed the authorities to take a conscientious decision in regard to buying any diesel vehicle, whether by central or the state government. “We direct all the public authorities, corporation, DDA, police and other public departments to prepare an action plan for the phasing out of diesel vehicles, particularly the trucks being used by all these bodies,” it said.
The government explained to the NGT its decision to impose the odd-even car formula and all other aspects which would be simultaneously operative to reduce air pollution in Delhi. “We think the authorities concerned must sit together and clearly answer the queries raised by the tribunal as well as in relation to the compliance of the directions already issued, which in their considered opinion, if implemented simultaneously with the odd and even car system proposed to be introduced, would make it for more effective and result-oriented,” the NGT order said.
The tribunal further directed the Delhi government to take a clear stand on the system that was to be adopted for scrapping vehicles, particularly diesel ones, which are more than 10 years old, the benefits in registration and incentives that would be granted to the owner in respect to the new vehicle like registration fee/excise duty etc.
1,400 vehicles registered every day
New Delhi: The Delhi government led by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal told the National Green Tribunal bench that in all the Regional Transport Offices in the national capital, around 1,300 to 1,400 vehicles were being registered every day, including heavy and light one and two-wheelers. The tribunal noted that reasonably good numbers of vehicles were also being registered at Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad and Noida, which are over and above the vehicles registered in Delhi.