NGT seeks government view on diesel vehicle ban

National Green Tribunal has asked government agencies why they have not submitted their views on phasing out over a decade old diesel vehicles in their departments, despite its specific directions two months ago.

The green panel had on December 11, 2015 directed the Central and state governments to take a decision on not buying any diesel vehicle for their departments and asked them to prepare an action plan for disposing of diesel vehicles which were more than 10 years old.

However, no suggestion, response or comment has yet been submitted by any public authority on the issue. “We had asked for an action plan for phasing out of diesel vehicles particularly the trucks. You have not given comments as to why we should not ban old government department diesel vehicles,” a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar observed.

The observation came during a hearing on South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s plea seeking directions to the Delhi government to register new diesel vehicles, conforming to BS-IV norms, which it plans to buy for garbage disposal.

The plea moved by SDMC contends that the green panel in 2015 had banned registration of new diesel vehicles as well as re-registration after 10 years. Later, the top court also banned registration of diesel- run SUVs and cars having engine capacity beyond 2000 cc in Delhi and National Capital Region till March 31.

Due to this, the transport department was not registering the newly procured vehicles which conform to BS-IV norms and not re-registering the old vehicles, it said.

“The apex court made no observation of heavy duty diesel vehicles being used by public authorities for management of garbage disposal under the MSW rules... non-registration of vehicles by the transport department is leading to non-implementation of the projects of garbage disposal. As a result the existing concessionaire is asked to continue with prevalent system which is not environment friendly,” it said.