Concerned over the growing number of vehicles, which experts claim, contribute to the deteriorating quality of air in the national capital region (NCR), the National Green Tribunal (NGT) is likely to take a final decision on banning over 10-year-old diesel vehicles from plying in Delhi-NCR soon.
The tribunal had earlier banned diesel vehicles, but later stayed its order and then extended the stay till July 13 after the Central government expressed its inability to implement the order at a short notice. The case is likely to be heard on July 13, 14 and 15.
The NGT, in the last hearing, had also asked the Centre and the Delhi government to file their replies on the reasons for non-compliance of its earlier order. While the Delhi government has reportedly agreed to implement the ban and has also suggested a slew of measures to restrict the number of vehicles, the Central government believes diesel vehicles older than 10 years were responsible for a “negligible” amount of air pollution and had cited a research reportedly published by IIT-Delhi to support its argument.
While the tribunal had also directed the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways to submit its views on capping the total number of vehicles, scrapping old vehicles, car pooling, and incentives to those who want to dispose of their old vehicles, it had asked the Central Pollution Control Board to file additional data in support of its report on pollution in the NCR.
