India’s Green Tribunal Directs Ban On Delhi Diesel Vehicles 10 Years Old

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Regional Transport Office in Delhi to de-register with immediate effect all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old.

Increasing air pollution has forced the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take harsh action as it has asked the Delhi Regional Transport Office (RTO) to de-register all the vehicles which are more than 10 years old. The NGT also asked the RTO to issue public notice in this regard and supply a list of such vehicles to Delhi Traffic Police so as to take appropriate steps in consonance with directions of the tribunal.

NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said in his order that, "We hereby direct RTO, Delhi to de-register all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old."

The NGT passed the order after noting the failure by the Delhi Police to stop the diesel vehicles more than 10 years old from driving on the roads.
The National Green Tribunal has also directed the Ministry of Heavy Industries to file an affidavit giving the status of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country and also mention as to what benefits the ministry was considering for those who wish to dispose of their old vehicles.

NGT also ordered the Heavy Industries Ministry to write a letter to Chief Secretaries of all the states within one week in this regard.

The National Green Tribunal slammed the Delhi government for its failure to implement its earlier order of banning diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old. The NGT also criticized the Delhi government over incidents of waste burning and dust pollution in Delhi.

The NGT had also asked the Delhi government to create awareness among the people about the vehicular pollution and waste burning by issuing advertisements.

"CSE has been fighting for the last 10 years to say that diesel cars are much more polluting than petrol even when it comes for the so called clean Euro 4 diesel. The fact is that they allowed 7 times more particulates, 3 times more knocks which is nitrogen oxide as compared to petrol cars. The large number of diesel cars sold in Delhi and NCR have added the pollution to the city. I think today's order shows that the NGT is very serious about the increasing pollution in Delhi and wants concrete action on part of the Delhi government and Delhi Police," Sunita Narayan, Head of the Centre for Science and Environment told Sputnik.