NGT dismisses Centre's plea, refuses to lift ban on 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday dismissed Centre's plea seeking modification of its ban order on diesel vehicles and refused to lift a ban on 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR region. 

"One diesel vehicle causes pollution equal to 24 petrol vehicles and 40 CNG vehicles," said the NGT.

Noting that diesel was the prime source of air pollution in Delhi, the Tribunal had earlier said the situation was so alarming that people have been even advised to leave Delhi due to adverse effects on health.

In April this year, the green panel had questioned the government over its submission. "You (Centre) say that every kind of fuel causes some or the other kind of pollution. Then by your logic either every type of vehicle should be banned, or everything should be allowed. What is the solution?" a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had said.

On November 26, 2014, the NGT had said diesel and petrol vehicles more than 15 years old should not be permitted to ply on Delhi roads, to tackle increasing air pollution in the national capital.

On April 7, 2015, the NGT had ordered that all diesel vehicles more than 10 years old would not be permitted to ply in Delhi.

The Supreme Court, on April 20 the same year, rejected a plea against the NGT order banning all diesel and petrol vehicles which are more than 15 years old from Delhi’s roads.

In July last year, the NGT had directed the Delhi government to cancel the registration of all diesel-powered vehicles that are over 10 years old from plying in the city.