NGT seeks reply of Centre, Delhi govt on car dealers' plea

The Tribunal has asked both the Centre and Delhi govt to make their stand clear by tomorrow

The National Green Tribunal today asked the Centre and Delhi government to make clear their stand by tomorrow on capping and scrapping of diesel cars and providing incentives to those who do not use private vehicles after car dealers sought modifications in its "harsh" order.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to Ministries of Road Transport, Environment and Forests and Heavy Industries as well as Delhi government and others while hearing the plea of car dealers seeking modification of order banning registration of new diesel vehicles.

Senior advocate Pinaki Misra, appearing for Delhi based car dealers, said that the tribunal has passed a "harsh" direction by ordering that there would be no registration of new diesel vehicles.

"We are saddled with stocks of 2015 which would be difficult to dispose in 2016 due the order passed by NGT," Misra said.

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 green panel, however, said that a similar matter was scheduled for hearing in Supreme Court so it will not be proper for it to pass any directions.

"If a similar matter is there in Supreme Court, it would be improper on our part to say anything," the bench said.

The tribunal, however, directed all the concerned authorities to 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.

"We have no doubts on the scheme. We observed certain things just because we want results out of it. Government is the final authority in the matter. It is for them to take a stand," it said.