A Delhi resident’s plea alleging that diesel-powered inter-State taxis operating in the Capital were violating the Supreme Court directive, led the National Green Tribunal on Friday to seek the response of the government in the matter.
A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Delhi government and radio taxi operators —— ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Ola), Serendipity Infolabs Pvt. Ltd. (TaxiForSure) and Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd. (Uber) — seeking their replies by July 3.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Delhi resident Davinder Pal Singh against pollution caused by “illegal” usage and plying of diesel taxis like Uber, Ola and TaxiForSure bearing All India Tourist Permit as local taxis within the Delhi-NCR region.
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Mr. Singh has contended that diesel vehicles used for public transport affect air quality and therefore all commercial vehicles, including local taxis operating in Delhi, are required to be run only on clean fuel mode as per the Apex court order.
“All commercial vehicles, including local taxis, operating in Delhi are required to be run only on clean fuel mode, i.e., CNG [single fuel] mode as per the directions of Supreme Court,” the plea, filed through advocate Pankaj Vivek, said.
The petition contended that the judgment of the Apex court was passed with a view to check rapid deterioration of air quality in Delhi, which has become a health hazard.
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“In Delhi, registration of diesel vehicles for commercial use is permitted only if they apply for and obtain All India Tourist Taxi permits in order to use it for inter-city business as CNG may not be available in locations outside NCR region,” the plea said.
The plea sought direction to punish “offending All India Tourist taxi permit holders” who are using diesel taxis for intra-city transport and restrain the Delhi government from allowing use of All India Permit Taxis registered in other States for use as taxis for Delhi-NCR region.