The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday said that diesel vehicles older than 15 years will not get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for sale outside Delhi-NCR. “All diesel vehicles which are more than 15 years old and are BS-I, BS-II shall be scrapped and no NOC for transfer of such vehicles will be issued,” said the NGT.
However, the NGT cleared the air on the mechanism to dispose of almost three lakh over 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi. It said that vehicles older than 15 years will be de-registered first. Vehicles older than ten years, but less than 15 years will be de-registered in a phased manner thereafter; and such vehicles will get the NOC for sale to only those locations outside Delhi-NCR where vehicle density is low.
The green panel ordered the States to identify such locations where “dispersion of air is higher and vehicle density is low”. It said that the Motor licensing Officers (MlOs) in Delhi will issue NOCs only for those areas which have been identified by the States.
Issuing the order, the NGT Bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said, “Heavy vehicles, including trucks, with national permits will not be permitted to enter Delhi, but will be allowed to bypass Delhi through alternate routes.”
The Bench emphasised that the de-registration process of diesel vehicles should be “effectively” complied 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.
Addressing the issue of what would happen to those vehicles which continue to ply on roads even after they are de-registered considering that the Delhi Police has limited space to store impounded vehicles, the green panel asked the Delhi Development Authority to provide space for parking of de-registered diesel vehicles.
“Chief Secretary, Delhi, is directed to take up meeting in a week with Commissioner of Police, respective corporations, DDA and others to identify sites for parking purposes,” the Bench said.
Asking the Delhi Government to respond on the issue of capping of vehicles, including private cars, the NGT asked the Delhi Government to take immediate steps to improve and strengthen public transport system and introduce buses which run on CNG, hybrid or electric.
The tribunal asked the Ministry of Heavy Industries to take a view with regard to scrapping of vehicles and publicise benefits associated with it which would be provided to persons who opt for such a policy.
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.
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.
The Bench had ordered the RTO of the Transport Department in Delhi, that after de-registration, it will issue public notice in this regard and supply the list of such vehicles to Delhi Traffic Police which will take appropriate steps in consonance with directions of the tribunal.
The tribunal had said that even during the odd-even scheme initiated by the Delhi Government, the ambient air quality did not improve and in fact, the parameters remained on the higher side more than the permissible limits.
It had passed the order after noting submissions of the Delhi Police that it has made continuous attempts to stop vehicles which were more than 10 years old from plying on the roads of the national capital.
The tribunal had on April 7, 2015 held that all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old will not be permitted to ply in Delhi-NCR.
On November 26, 2014, it had banned plying of all diesel or petrol vehicles which were more than 15 years old.