SC bans registration of luxury diesel cars in Delhi through March 2016

Taxis must convert to CNG by March 31, 2016, trucks not bound for Delhi to be diverted along NH8

The Supreme Court on Wednesday banned registration of luxury diesel cars until March 31, 2016, in a desperate bid to cut pollution levels that have earned the national capital the sobriquet of the ‘world’s most polluted city’.

The SC order means that sale of diesel SUVS and luxury cars with more than 2,000 cc engine capacity in Delhi will now be illegal in the national capital.

The court also directed that all taxis in the National Capital Region switch to CNG fuel by March 31, 2016; this will apply to private taxis that operate through cab-hailing applications such as Uber and Ola. 

Additionally, the apex court court directed Delhi Police to ensure that trucks that are not headed for the capital as a destination are diverted to an alternative route via NH8 which, along with NH1, is a key entry point for the national capital. 

An earlier environment cess on trucks entering Delhi has also been doubled. 

The court has also banned the burning of garbage within city limits, and has recommended stiff fines for construction sites that violate pollution levels imposed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). 

The court’s order comes after a series of alerts over Delhi’s pollution levels, with at least one report saying it is the most polluted city in the world, surpassing even Beijing’s infamous smog.

On Tuesday, the apex court had said it would ban diesel SUVs and luxury cars with more than 2,000 cc capacity, noting “rich people can't go round in SUVs polluting the environment”, according to an NDTV report.

In its comments on Tuesday, the Supreme Court had also slammed car dealers who had been protesting the National Green Tribunal’s order banning sales of new diesel vehicles in the city, saying they had at least 6,000 cars in unsold unsold. Car dealers were supposed to meet the NGT officials to request permission to sell their stock but the green panel decided to wait till the Supreme Court passed its order.

In its comments, NDTV reported the court telling car dealers in a caustic comment that “People's life is at stake and you are interested in selling cars.”