Have to consider economic,other aspects: Gadkari on NGT ban on

India's economic situation and related aspects needed to be factored into implementation of NGT order banning diesel vehicles older than ten years in Delhi, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said, as more diesel vehicles were impounded in the national capital.
The comments by Gadkari came even as Transport ministers of southern states suggested scrapping all types of vehicles, both petrol and diesel, which are older than 15 years.
"We respect the judgement(of the Tribunal) we are already committed towards a pollution-free India, but at the same time we have to think about the economic situation of our country," Gadkari said last evening while addressing a conference of transport ministers from South Indian states in Panaji.

"We have to consider about the poverty of our country and also per capita income. And in such a situation we have to consider all the points. If you go by only one side, it will not be justified. For all these debatable issues, I need your opinion and then we will take the decision," he said.
Gadkari said the option of converting the existing diesel buses into electrical ones for possible use in ferrying school students can also be explored.
Delhi Traffic Police have impounded nearly 600 vehicles as it continued with efforts to enforce the National Green Tribunal(NGT) ban ordered on Tuesday.

In a significant step to improve ambient air quality in Delhi, the NGT held that all diesel vehicles which are more than 10-years old would not be permitted to ply in the capital.

According to official figures, around 1.53 lakh diesel-run vehicles older than 10 years are plying in Delhi.
At their meeting in Panaji, the southern Transport ministers also recommended restricting the age of vehicles operated by educational institutes to eight years.
"We found that there are lot of vehicles which are plying on the road which are very old. There are vehicles used by educational institutions which are old and very dangerous to students," South India Transport Council (SITCO) Secretary R Srilekha told reporters at the end of two day-long meeting held in Goa.

Srilekha, who is Kerala Transport Commissioner, said SITCO has resolved to recommend to the Centre to fix the age of vehicles.
"The vehicles used for educational institutions should be eight years to reduce pollution and to reduce the risk of accidents. More than eight-year-old vehicles should not be used," Srilekha, an IPS officer, said.
It was also decided that general vehicles which are more than 15 years old should be scrapped and not allowed to be sold to another buyer.
"These are few of the recommendations that we are going to place before the Union government," she added.