NGT asks Centre, Delhi to clarify stand on diesel vehicles

Tribunal had on Dec 11 banned registration, its renewal of diesel vehicles in the city

The Centre and Delhi government have been ordered to clarify their stand on capping the number of diesel vehicles operating in Delhi by Wednesday following which the National Green Tribunal will provide further directions, it said on Tuesday.

The NGT had on 11 December ordered an immediate ban on registration of diesel-run vehicles in Delhi as also on renewal of registration of such vehicles which are more than 10 years old. It had also urged the Centre and state to consider not buying any more diesel vehicles. 

Hearing a plea by car dealers who have complained of large quantities of existing stock which risk remaining unsold, the NGT issued notices to all stakeholders including Union Ministries of Road Transport, Environment and Heavy Industries as well as Delhi government.

All parties are to clearly file their replies by tomorrow with a clear stand on capping/ scrapping of old cars and providing incentives to those who do not use their private vehicles. It also clarified that it has no doubts on the odd even plan of Delhi government and only wants its proper implementation.

NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said a similar matter was scheduled for hearing in Supreme Court so it will not be proper for it to pass any directions.

Senior advocate Pinaki Mishra, appearing for Delhi-based car dealers, sought modification of the order on the ground that diesel cars which were manufactured in 2015 should be allowed be sold as the existing stock would become obsolete by next year. 

He asked the tribunal to modify the order so that the existing stocks of diesel cars be sold as this was the month for giving discounts and high sale was expected. The automakers are hopeful that the government, while implementing the NGT order, will take into consideration the fate of all the vehicles which were already in the showrooms before the ban was ordered on December 11

Diesel emissions have in fact been reclassified as a Class I carcinogen, the same as tobacco, by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the Centre for Science and Environment, the emission from a diesel vehicle equals the emission from three to five petrol ones.

However, diesel vehicles, which amount for almost half the volume of Delhi’s private vehicles, are a huge market for automakers in the country. Delhi is in fact the country’s largest market for cars, accounting for more than a fifth of sales.

Diesel currently costs lesser than petrol and is the fuel that moves all trucks, which, along with the railways, are the main carrier of goods. A rise in diesel prices can therefore increase the prices of several goods by adding to the cost of transport.

In the meantime, the Delhi government is readying an even-odd number policy that will prohibit private vehicles from plying every alternate day. To be implemented for 15 days starting January 1, 2016, the measure could see a dip in pollution numbers.

The bench had in November last year banned all vehicles which were more than 15 years old and held that they would not be permitted to ply on the city roads. Also, in April of last year, the green panel had held that all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old would not be permitted to ply in Delhi-NCR.