Diesel vehicles older than 15 years to be deregistered first: NGT

It seems the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has finally woken up from its slumber. After directing the Delhi RTO to immediately deregister all diesel vehicles older than 10 years, the NGT has now said it would carry out deregistration of diesel vehicles in a phased manner. It has also suggested the first action in this regard where it wants diesel vehicles older than 15 years to be deregistered first.

However, this time around, NGT has not just gone for deregistering diesel vehicles. The NGT has also made it clear that deregistered diesel vehicles will not get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to ply outside Delhi-NCR region. The tribunal has also asked the Delhi government to respond to the issue of limiting the number of vehicles in the capital. Finally, the body has the Delhi government to take immediate steps to improve and strengthen public transportation system and introduce CNG-run, electric or hybrid buses.

A bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said that first round of deregistration would lead to scrapping of BS I and BS II vehicles and ownership of such vehicles would not be transferrable. The bench also said that heavy vehicles such as trucks with national permit will not be allowed to ply in Delhi. However, such vehicles would be allowed to bypass the national capital using alternate routes, the bench added.

These directives come after the Ministry of Heavy Industries informed the bench of the effect the tribunal's decision has had on essential services and food supply chains. The tribunal, during the proceedings, also clarified that deregistered vehicles which are less than 15 years old could get NOCs for plying in select areas outside Delhi-NCR, and such a decision would preside with state authorities. The tribunal has asked state authorities to identify such areas.