Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday came out in support of transport associations, promising them all assistance from the Delhi Government in putting across their grievances before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The Government also decided to conduct a pollution check of 100 odd 5-year-old and 10-year-old vehicles each to scientifically determine correlation of age of vehicle to its pollution levels.
Rajinder Kapoor, secretary general of Delhi Goods Transport Association, told The Pioneer that Gopal Rai has promised to hold a meeting with the transport associations and the concerned commissioners of different departments to formulate their defence strategy for the next NGT hearing.
“Also, the Minister has decided to hold a comprehensive pollution check of 100 5-year-old 10-year-old vehicles each to find out the pollution levels in relation to the age. The intention is to put forth the argument that pollution levels don't depend on the age of the vehicle but on the maintenance of the engine,” said Kapoor, adding that while they want the ban on 10-year-old vehicles to be lifted, they support action against vehicles that actually cause pollution.
The move comes after representatives of transport associations of Delhi met Transport Minister Gopal Rai with their grievances. They claimed that their vehicles have fitness certificates and do not cause much pollution and should be allowed to ply.
The associations had earlier called for a strike against the NGT ban on old diesel vehicles, which was later called off when NGT stayed the order for two weeks. The transporters said that they would reconsider the strike based on what decision is taken in the next NGT hearing.
“So far, we have been getting support from both Delhi Government and the Central Government. So we decided to hold off our strike. We will see what happens in next NGT meet and decide accordingly,” said Kapoor.