All diesel vehicles 10 years old or more stay banned

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has finally agreed to let the NDMC use old diesel vehicles for cleaning purposes only. Also, the vehicles must have GPS installed. Noida authorities were also allowed to use four similar vehicles for cleaning.

The NGT, comprising Justice Swatanter Kumar (Chairperson), Justices Jawad Rahim and Raghuvendra S  Rathore (Judicial Members), Bikram Singh Sajwan and Ranjan Chatterjee (Expert Members), was on March 30 formally informed of the Supreme Court’s March 29 decision of banning all new BS-IV non-compliant vehicles from sale or registration with effect from April 1.

The NGT considered this on March 30 and directed the RTO Delhi that over and above the order of the Supreme Court, all diesel vehicles which were 10 years old or older shall be banned from sale, purchase, use and registration.

The bench in its order directed the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to be responsible for ensuring compliance of the order.

The counsel for the state argued about the difficulties in complying with the order, but the bench said it was not ready to entertain a single lame excuse.

The NDMC raised its old plea, saying it needs diesel vehicles for the purpose of cleaning and transportation of municipal solid waste. Most of their vehicles are 10 years or older. The bench said: “Look we can allow an exemption for the cleaning purpose, because such vehicles contain machinery for the purpose for cleaning. But for transportation you need to make other arrangements.”

The bench enquired if petrol or CNG vehicles could be used for such purposes; to which the petitioners said CNG models will not have the same power.

—By India Legal Bureau