NGT reiterates ban on 10-yr-old diesel vehicles
NEW DIESEL VEHICLES WHICH ARE NOT BSIV COMPLIANT SHALL ALSO NOT BE REGISTERED, THE TRIBUNAL HAS FURTHER REITERATED
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has reiterated that 10-year-old diesel vehicles would not be allowed to ply in Delhi nor would they be allowed to enter the National Capital from outside.
New diesel vehicles which are not BS-IV compliant shall also not be registered, the tribunal further reiterated. Only essential vehicles such as ambulance, fire services and sewer cleaning machines, among others, have been exempted from the rule.
“Applications have been filed seeking permission to use 10-year-old diesel vehicles or registration of new vehicles which are not BS-IV complaint and not needed for essential services. Such applications cannot be allowed,” the NGT has ruled.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice AK Goel passed the orders earlier this week while disposing a four-year-old case related to air pollution (Vardhaman Kaushik Vs Union of India).
“We are of the view that applications filed by owners of BS-IV complaint new diesel vehicles engaged in ambulance, fire services food products, transporting LPG cylinders will continue to be allowed in city,” the bench said.
The NGT, however, clarified that though it has made an exception in respect to vehicles meant for essential services on ad-hoc basis, such exception has not been made across the board.
Owners of diesel vehicles in some cities and towns of Uttar Pradesh, such as Meerut, Bulandshahr, Moradabad, and Muzaffarnagar, who had sought extension for three years after the expiry of the ten-year period, have however, been permitted to use their vehicles as long as they do not enter Delhi.
“The tribunal is permitting the use of such vehicles for an additional three years after the 10-year-life on the condition that they do not enter Delhi,” the bench said. Petitioners from UP had sought parity with the October 13, 2017 order of the NGT in which it had granted permissions to diesel vehicle owners on the ground that time was required for setting up CNG fuel stations.