As Delhi prepares to implement the odd-even car system come January 2016, ending almost a year-long wait for government action on diesel vehicles, the National Green Tribunal on Friday directed that no new or old diesel vehicle be registered in Delhi till Jan. 6. The NGT had, way back in Nov. 2014, suggested banning diesel vehicles. But the government kept seeking time to implement it.
On Friday, while asking the Aam Aadmi Party government to take a serious view on whether diesel vehicles should be registered in Delhi or not, the NGT, as an interim measure, ordered that they be not registered till January 6, the next date of hearing.
Not only that, the Tribunal tried to stir the conscience of the Centre and the State government as it reiterated its suggestion that they or their agencies should not purchase any diesel vehicle and phase out those already in use.
“We direct the government to take a conscientious decision in regard to not buying any diesel vehicle, whether by the Central or the State Government.”
“We direct all the public authorities, Corporation, DDA, Police and other Public Departments to prepare an action plan for phasing out of diesel vehicles, particularly the trucks being used by all these bodies,” a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The NGT also raised queries concerning the even-odd scheme and questioned its feasibility as it sought to know if the government had assessed its impact on pollution levels. The Tribunal also wanted to know whether due to this scheme, more buses would come on road and cause more pollution.
