Plea on BS-IV norms infructuous: NGT

The National Green Tribunal has dismissed as "infructuous" a plea opposing auto industry body SIAM's call to defer the new emission norms, which came in force from April 1, for selling unsold stock of BS-III compliant vehicles.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said there was nothing left in the petition as the Supreme Court has already banned the sale and registration of non BS- IV compliant vehicles.
"The counsel appearing for the applicant submits that in view of the order passed by the Supreme Court of India, this application has become infructuous," the bench said.
On March 29, the apex court had prohibited registration of vehicles which do not meet Bharat Stage-IV emission standards saying the health of the people was "far, far more important than the commercial interests of the manufacturers".

The tribunal was hearing a plea filed by Dr R K Sharma, who said he was aggrieved by the conduct of SIAM for its call to defer the new emission norms and seeking extension of time to sell underlying stock of BS-III compliant vehicles.
The plea had sought directions that all types of vehicles, even those manufactured this year, should not be permitted to be sold and registered after April 1, 2017 unless they comply with the BS-IV standards.

"Some vehicle manufacturers are lobbying for a relaxation in the deadline for BS-IV norms for flooding the market with their old BS-III vehicles on the ground of alleged unsold inventory. Thus, the vehicle manufacturers seek to sell and register non-BS-IV vehicles even after April 1, 2017," the plea had said.

Last October, the Environment Pollution Control Authority had said it would not allow the sale or registration of any pre-BS-IV vehicles from April 1.
The government had in August 2015 said the sale of four- wheelers not meeting Bharat Stage (BS)-IV emission norms will be barred in India from April 2017 with a view to bring the entire country under the ambit of tighter pollution control standards.
"From April 1, 2017, the mass emission standards for Bharat Stage IV shall come into force all over the country. With this, only those newly manufactured four wheeler vehicles, which are compliant with the BS-IV standards, will be allowed to register and move on roads with effect from the notified dates in the notified areas," the Road Ministry had said.