NGT bans all diesel vehicles plying for over 10 years in Delhi with immediate effect

Last week, the Green Tribunal had given the Delhi government two weeks time to clarify whether it is in favour of cancelling the registration of diesel cars which are 10 years old and petrol cars which are 15 years old.

New Delhi: New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Monday directed the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Delhi to de-register all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old with immediate effect.

The development came after the Delhi government had been given two weeks time by the Green Tribunal last week to clarify whether it is in favour of cancelling the registration of diesel cars which are 10 years old and petrol cars which are 15 years old.

The green panel said the RTO, after de-registration, will issue public notice in this regard and supply the list of such vehicles to Delhi Traffic Police which will take appropriate steps in consonance with directions of tribunal.

"We hereby direct RTO, Delhi to deregister all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The Tribunal passed the order after noting submissions of Delhi Police which said that it has made continuous attempts to stop vehicles which were more than 10 years old from plying on the roads of the national capital.

It also directed Ministry of Heavy Industries to file an affidavit giving the status of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country and also mention as to what benefits the ministry was considering for those who wish to dispose of their old vehicles.

It also ordered the ministry to write a letter to Chief Secretaries of all the states within one week in this regard.

The NGT had taken Delhi government to task for its failure to implement its order banning such vehicles from plying on the roads here.

While answering tribunal's query as to why its order was not being implemented, the government's counsel had said that due to lack of law in this regard, the impounded vehicles got relief from the magisterial court.

During the last hearing, the tribunal had indicated de-registration of 10 years old diesel vehicles after it was told by the counsel for Delhi government that over 3,000 such vehicles were impounded in last one year.

The NGT had slammed the government over incidents of waste burning and dust pollution in the national capital.

The Tribunal also pulled up the state government for environment compensation not being levied from vehicles despite its orders.

(With PTI inputs)