India’s economic situation needs to be considered before jumping into implementation of National Green Tribunal order banning diesel vehicles older than ten years in Delhi, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said, after Delhi Traffic Police started a massive drive to impounded decade-old-diesel vehicles in the national Capital. As a domino effect, the Transport Ministers of southern States also suggested scrapping all types of vehicles, both petrol and diesel, which are older than 15 years at their meeting in Panaji on Friday. The Ministers also recommended restricting the age of vehicles operated by educational institutes to eight years.
“We respect the judgement (of the Tribunal) we are already committed towards a pollution-free India, but at the same time we have to think about the economic situation of our country,” said Gadkari on Thursday, while addressing a conference of the Transport Ministers from South Indian States. “We have to consider the poverty of our country and also per capita income. These (ban on diesel vehicles) are debatable issues, and a lot of discussions are needed before taking any decision,” he said. Gadkari said the option of converting the existing diesel buses into electrical ones for possible use in ferrying school students can also be explored.