NGT wants to ban 10-year-old diesel vehicles in 15 cities

The National Green Tribunal wants to ban old diesel vehicles over 10 years old in atleast 15 cities across India to bring down pollution, NDTV said, quoting sources. 

The NGT has already banned the use of diesel cars that are over ten years old, in New Delhi, which was later extended to Kerala recently. 

An alert from NDTV added that the tribunal is looking for states' response on cities with the worst air quality to arrive at 15 cities where old diesel vehicles will be taken off the roads. 

Apart from this, there has been rampant uncertainty about India's stand on new diesel cars as well. The ban put into place for the registration of new diesel cars above the capacity of 2,000 cc in New Delhi and Kerala has had carmakers up in arms. Many including Toyota have spoken out strongly against the ban, saying it's even hampering their confidence in India.

Many manufactuers have resorted to petrol versions of their popular diesel SUVs and vehicles with smaller engine capacities, to get around the ban. Others have such models in the pipeline.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who is in Japan currently for a six-day meet, said that the ban on the registration of new large diesel car is a transient phase. He is scheduled to meet Suzuki Motor Chairman Osamu Suzuki on Tuesday. Jaitley said, the diesel car ban on large vehicles doesn't have the potential to hamper Maruti Suzuki that holds a large chunk of the Indian market.