NGT ban on diesel vehicles will lead to price rise: CAIT

Supply of goods, including essential commodities, could be impacted leading to price escalation in the National Capital due to implementation of NGT's ban on plying of diesel vehicles that are more than ten years old, traders body CAIT said today.
"The NGT order, if implemented in Delhi, will have a great fall out. The supplies of goods, including essential commodities will be greatly effected resulted into escalation in prices and no easy availability of goods," CAIT said in a statement.
Besides, movement of raw material for various trade and related material may also be impacted which could directly hit about 20 lakh people engaged in the transport business, it said.

The Confederation of Indian Traders (CAIT) also said that the order of the National Green Tribunal may also lead to "loss of revenue to state government and three MCDs besides lead to unemployment, price hike and non-availability of goods".
It urged both the state government and the Union government to intervene in the matter and bring out a comprehensive policy to check pollution and till such time the NGT may be approached to keep the order in abeyance.
"About Rs 550 crore business takes place in Delhi per day out of which goods worth Rs 250 crore are transported through vehicles that are more than 10 years old. Do the MCD have sufficient staff to man 122 toll barriers is a big question?" it said.

Though the intention and spirit of the NGT order is correct, it said but instead of a casual approach to meet environmental threats, a comprehensive policy to tackle all aspects of pollution issue needs to be formulated.

It said that as per an estimate about 10 lakh diesel vehicles are registered in Delhi which includes truck, tempo, taxi and car out of which about 2.5 lakh are decade old.
Beside, about one lakh commercial diesel vehicles enters Delhi every day out of which about 25,000 are ten years old.
It also said that due to implementation of this order, the Delhi government will suffer a daily loss of VAT revenue to the tune of Rs 30 crore and MCDs would lose Rs 50 lakh per day which comes through toll tax.

The traders body suggested that instead of the ban, efforts should be made to develop alternative cleaner fuels.