Delhi Diesel Ban: NGT Lashes Out At Centre For Poor Implementation

The National Green Tribunal reprimanded the Centre on Monday regarding the impounding of diesel four-wheelers and directed the Ministry of Heavy Industries to expeditiously frame a policy for scrapping these vehicles and publicising the benefits to the individuals who opt for it. 

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson, Justice Swatanter Kumar, said that more than a year had passed since its directions in that regard but nothing had been done till date. “You made tall claims before us that you are going to provide incentive for scrapping of vehicles, but did nothing. You say something before us and forget as you step outside the tribunal,” the bench said.

“Ministry of heavy industries had assured us that it was in the process of providing methodology and incentives to those scrapping their vehicles…We direct the ministry to take clear instructions in this regard,” the bench said.

The NGT also asked Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments to hold meeting with the chief secretary of Delhi govt for identifying land in border areas to park vehicles banned from plying in Delhi NCR. 

In addition, the Delhi Government has been asked by the panel to respond on the issue of capping of vehicles and private cars in the national capital. The NGT has also asked the Delhi Government to take immediate steps to improve and strengthen public transport system and introduce buses which are CNG, hybrid or electric ones.

Earlier, the NGT had ordered the government to strictly restrict over 10-year-old diesel vehicles from plying on the roads in the national capital. The government had also faced a barrage of searching questions on the alarming air pollution levels, including the failure of the odd-even scheme to regulate pollution levels in the region.