The National Green Tribunal’s order to ban diesel vehicles over 10 years in Delhi is more populist than practical. The Tribunal must revise its order, and make sure that no vehicle, unless not maintained properly, is needlessly scrapped
Some regulators like the National Green Tribunal (NGT) are functioning with enthusiasm but are ignoring the basic tenets of law and the impact on gradual wealth formation and economic growth.
The NGT’s order to regional transport offices (RTOs) in Delhi to de-register diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old is unscientific. The Tribunal’s concerns are more populist than practical.
Removing about 82,496 (registered in 2015) diesel vehicles in Delhi, or about five lakh petrol vehicles every year, going by the 10-year and 15-year scrapping orders, will impoverish the country, but will not solve the pollution problem. All over the country, numbers will swell to at least 10 crore a year.
Ironically, the NGT’s order is in contradiction with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. A judicial or a quasi-judicial body is supposed to adhere to the law of land. The magistracy does that more appropriately.
The NGT, on July 19 said, “It is stated that vehicles
are released by the magistrates after imposing fine under the Motor Vehicle Act and the vehicles surface again on the roads”.
There is nothing like clean fuel. All fossil fuels — coal, petrol, diesel, kerosene and also compressed natural gas (CNG) — are unclean. Even electric vehicles’ batteries are pollutants. So should we ban any energy-producing substanceIJ
Buses that run on CNG are equally harmful for humans as they emit nanocarbon particles which can cause cancer. In 2010, a study by the the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) attributed about seven per cent of particulate matter pollution from CNG-run vehicles. Of the total particulate matter pollution load in the capit(PM) al, the study said, 52 percent was because of dust.
The CPCB study said that CNG vehicles contribute about 10 per cent of the total nitrogen dioxide load in the capital. “CNG does not contribute much to PM 10 (which is widely monitored). But it plays an important role in the circulation of smaller particulate pollution of 2.5 and one microns. These facts are known in the scientific community but have not been disseminated to people,” said a senior CPCB scientist to the Hindustan Times on March 13, 2015.
The studies have come from the highest scientific bodies in India. Why we should not ban CNG vehicles, if we have to go by the logic of the NGT and courts. The CSIR and CPCB studies reveal how utopian orders are being passed by bodies, which do not function on reality and practicability.
Mere euphoria cannot solve the problem. It can hurt the fledgling economy of a country that is struggling to grow. It is also possibly hitting the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is trying to bring the economy on fast track. Such orders take country back by several decades.
There is yet another aspect. About a month ago, the civil aviation department allowed aviation companies to purchase 18-year-old aircraft, instead of 15-year-old, to make air travel easier between smaller cities. The planes on domestic US flight are often as old as 40 years.
If these do no cause pollution, how can a well-maintained vehicle run on any fuel adhering Euro IV to VI norms would cause itIJ
It is unfortunate that the NGT has not studied these aspects. It owes an explanation to the nation for its not so wise decision.
Moreover, the NGT’s decision has caused uncertainty in the car industry. It has hurt the transport and taxi industry as it will not only make travel unnecessarily difficult but also costlier.
Such Tughlaqi orders increase rent-seeking and will also cause harassment to the common man who will find it difficult to make a living. So far it was only the police. The latest order has empowered the RTO to do it.
To survive, the common man, be a private or commercial vehicle owner, would have to pay illegal rents than face the deprivation of his hard-earned vehicle.
Stringent impractical orders lead to a parallel economy and severe corruption. The NGT’s concern is not unreal but the solution is. let the nation follow the standards of maintaining a vehicle. As per the Motor Vehicle Act, which was drafted with utmost care and practicability, vehicles are allowed to have registration even
after 15 years if these are in suitable conditions.
let the NGT set those standards in consultation with the automobile industry. let it learn from the aviation industry where four-decade-old aircraft are airworthy. let no vehicle, unless not maintained properly, be scrapped.
The NGT needs to revise its orders and contribute to the economy and ease of life and business.