NGT denies to lift ban on 10- year old diesel vehicles

On Thursday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed Centre's plea seeking modification of its ban order on diesel vehicles and refused to lift a ban on 10-year-old vehicles in Delhi-NCR region.

NGT says that one diesel vehicle causes pollution equal to 24 petrol vehicles and 40 CNG vehicles.

The Tribunal asserted that diesel was the main cause of air pollution in Delhi. This situation has been so alarming that people have been advised to move out from Delhi because of the adverse impact on their health. NGT chairperson Justice Swantander Kumar mentioned, “ As per the Centre every vehicle produces some or the other sort of pollution so either all the vehicles should be banned or all of them should be allowed. What is the solution to this problem?”

The NGT said on November 26, 2014, that diesel and petrol vehicles which are more than 15 years old should not be permitted to ply in Delhi in order to tackle increasing air pollution.

Further, on April 7, 2015, NGT ordered that all diesel vehicles more than 10 years would now be permitted to ply in Delhi.

Further on April 20 of the same year, the court rejected the plea against the NGT order banning all diesel and petrol vehicles which are more than 15 years old.

During last year, the NGT had directed the Delhi government to suspend the licenses of all the vehicles which are over 10 years old.