Ban on 10-year old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR to stay

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed a plea filed by the government to modify its ban order on 10-year old diesel vehicles in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). The judgment was delivered on the grounds of a similar plea that was filed in the Supreme Court, which the apex court had dismissed.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had moved the Tribunal seeking modification to the NGT's April 2015 order to ban 10-year old diesel vehicles from plying on the streets of Delhi-NCR. The plea was rejected by a bench comprising of Justice Jawad Rahim, R. S. Rathore and B. S. Sajwan. According to NGT, one diesel vehicle causes pollution equivalent to 24 petrol vehicles or 40 CNG powered vehicles.

In July 2016, the NGT had ordered the Delhi RTO to deregister diesel vehicles that were more than 10 years old. It was later decided that it would be done in a phased manner starting with vehicles that were more than 15 years old. The process of phasing out around 2 lakh diesel vehicles began in November 2016. 

Source: NDTV