Ban on old diesel vehicles in Delhi deferred

The National Green Tribunal on Monday deferred by two weeks implementation of its order to impound more than 10 years old diesel vehicles plying here, keeping in view the transportation needs of "essential services".

Noting that diesel is the prime source of air pollution in Delhi, the tribunal on April 7 ordered that all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old will not be permitted to ply in Delhi and the National Capital region.

"The order has been partially modified today largely because of essential services being hit," Sanjay Upadhyay, lawyer for applicant Vardhman Kaushik, told IANS.

He said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said there shall be no impounding of vehicles for two weeks. They also made it clear that the order was being deferred only for two weeks.

It also asked the city government to submit suggestions on providing incentives to those transferring/scrapping old, polluting diesel vehicles and on fixing a cap on the number of vehicles to be registered in the capital.