NHAI, Haryana to give info to NGT on vehicles entering Delhi

The National Green Tribunal today directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Haryana government to inform it as to how many goods transport vehicles travel to Delhi via Panipat.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked NHAI and Haryana to furnish the data by September 21, the next date of hearing.
"There appears to be some discrepancy in the data provided by you (Delhi Police) and NHAI. NHAI and Haryana, you both tell us how many goods transport vehicles, entering via Panipat, are destined to Delhi. Come on Monday," the bench said in a brief hearing.

The directions came after Delhi Police submitted a data on goods vehicles which entered Delhi via Singhu and Rajokri borders between September 11 and September 13.
The police informed the green bench that 4,672 goods vehicles entered Delhi via Singhu border, out of which 3,798 (81.29 per cent) vehicles were destined to Delhi while 874 (18.70 per cent) were destined to other areas like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
At Rajokri border, 5,036 goods vehicles entered Delhi out of which 3,243 (64.39 per cent) vehicles were destined to Delhi while 1793 (35.60 per cent) were destined to other areas like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

With regard to diesel vehicles (besides goods vehicles) entering Delhi, Delhi Police said that a sample of two hours slot (9PM to 11PM) showed that 814 vehicles entered Delhi while 639 vehicles entered Delhi between 12 AM to 2PM through Singhu border.

193 diesel vehicles entered the capital via Rajokri border between 6PM to 8PM while 739 vehicles entered between 12 AM to 2PM, it said.
Advocate Bhakti Pasrija Sethi, appearing for Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA), said there is mismatch in the data given by the Delhi Police and NHAI.
"Both the departments are submitting different data. If, according to them, majority of goods vehicles are coming to Delhi what purpose would be solved by Eastern and Western Peripheral expressway. In such a condition, spending of such huge amount of money would be a sheer waste of resources," Sethi said.

The green panel is deliberating on mechanism to devise an alternative route for commercial vehicles passing through the city to decongest the roads and reduce vehicular emissions.
The bench was hearing a plea on the deteriorating air quality in the capital.