Deregister diesel vehicles in phases, scrap BS I, II: NGT

Deregistration of 15 to 10 years old diesel vehicles in the national capital would be carried out in a phases, the National Green Tribunal said on Wednesday. The NGT said that diesel vehicles which are 15 years old should be de-registered first and will not get no objection certificate (NOC) for plying outside Delhi-NCR.

Only de-registered diesel vehicles which are less than 15 years old can get NOC for plying in select areas outside Delhi-NCR to be decided by states where vehicle density is less. The NGT asked the states to identify areas where dispersion of air is higher and vehicle density is less.

“All diesel vehicles which are more than 15-year-old and are BS-I, BS-II shall be scrapped and no NOC for transfer of such vehicles will be issued.

“Heavy vehicles, including trucks with national permits, will not be permitted to enter Delhi, but allowed to bypass Delhi through alternate routes,” a bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said as it clarified its earlier order directing the Delhi government to cancel the registration of all diesel-powered vehicles which are more than 10 years old from plying in the city.

“We make it clear that de-registration of diesel vehicles shall be complied with effectively without any default. However, registration authorities are directed to start the process with reference to oldest vehicles first, that is, diesel vehicles which are 15-year-old should be de-registered first,” the bench said.

The clarification came after additional solicitor-general Pinky Anand and advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for ministry of heavy industries, told the bench that food supply chain has been affected by the tribunal’s order.

“I am appearing for people of Delhi who have been hit by the NGT order. The essential services in the national capital have been severely affected leading to massive chaos from all corners,” the ASG said.

To this the bench said, “Has the Centre or Delhi govt made a single effort to resolve the diesel ban issue with transport associations

The Delhi Development Authority was asked by the NGT to provide space to the Delhi Transport Corporation and Delhi traffic police for parking of de-registered diesel vehicles, including the impounded ones. It also asked the Delhi government to respond on the issue of capping of vehicles and submit its views on limiting private cars in the national capital.

Earlier, the NGT had on July 18 directed the Delhi government to cancel the registration of all diesel-powered vehicles which are more than 10-year-old from plying in the city.