Diesel Vehicle Ban in Delhi: NGT Extends Stay

Owners of aging diesel vehicles in the National Capital Region can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now, as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has extended the stay of ban on 10 year old diesel vehicles, heavy or light, till July 13. A hearing will be held by the NGT once it reconvenes after the Summer break. 

A ban came into force in early April when a bench headed by NGT Chairperson, Justice Swatanter Kumar, stated that a number of countries such as Brazil, China and Denmark are in the process or have prohibited diesel vehicles or are in the process of doing away with them by imposing heavy taxes. Delhi’s air pollution is at alarming levels.

The ban has been stayed thrice till now, first on April 13 for two weeks, followed by May 1 and May 18. Justice Kumar said, “The Centre and the Delhi government will file their replies within three weeks on why the NGT should not pass an appropriate order for non-compliance of its order.” 

The bench also asked the Central Pollution Control Board to file additional data in support of its report regarding pollution in the national capital region (NCR). The green panel had on May 18 pulled up the Centre for seeking stay of its ban order on grounds that a research published by IIT-Delhi had contended that vehicles above 10 years were responsible for a "negligible" amount of the air pollution.

The NGT had said the study only referred to private vehicles but was silent on the pollution caused by commercial vehicles, including trucks, coming to the national capital.