SIAM questions NGT’s decision to ban 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR

After truckers refused to enter the capital city with diesel trucks carrying foodgrains and other essential commodities some days ago, an action followed by a plea from the Delhi government, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 13 has reconsidered its earlier decision of impounding diesel vehicles more than 10 years old in the Delhi-NCR on April 7.

The NGT has decided to stay its order by 2 weeks. The order was passed on a petition of Vardhaman Kaushik who had contended that the particulate level and pollution in Delhi had risen phenomenally.

Earlier in November 2014, the NGT had passed an order to ban 15-year-old petrol vehicles from the roads of Delhi. 

However apex industry body, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has taken a dim view of NGT’s sudden order, questioning why diesel vehicles should be impounded after 10 years when an earlier NGT order for petrol vehicles mandated a 15-year lifecycle that is yet to be implemented,  putting a question mark on the enforcement of the latest NGT ruling.

“There is no significant difference as far as pollution is concerned between the different fuels as both are going through various stages of emission norm implementation. Despite CNG being introduced in commercial vehicles, the pollution levels are still high in the city so we need to understand the reason. There is a study that has proven that only 12 percent of the pollution in the NCR region is caused by vehicles while power plants are among the major contributors,” says S Sandilya, former president of SIAM and Group chairman of Eicher Motors.

So NGT is attacking one small problem with a 10-year dictum. SIAM feels the order should have been comprehensive in its solution and involved controlling pollution and not controlling vehicles on the roads. Moreover, enforcement is going to be a big issue.

Another irritant pertains to what happens to the vehicles once they are impounded, queries Sandilya. Will they be scrapped or sold outside the Delhi-NCR taking the problem of pollution outside the periphery of the capital and its surroundings? This calls for a proper scheme and methodology to undertake this exercise. Also, what happens to those diesel-engined trucks passing through Delhi-NCR carrying auto components from the north to the southern region? Is there the infrastructure around the NCR region from where these vehicles can pass through like a corridor to prevent entry into the capital?

Therefore, a comprehensive solution to the problem is the need of the hour and not small repair and quick fix solutions. At present, Delhi-NCR, has more than 300,000 CVs which are over a decade old, 35-40 lakh two-wheelers as well as 12-13 lakh cars with this lifespan.

Welcoming any decision that will reduce pollution, SIAM is pitching to help the government find solutions – both vehicle-related and non-vehicle related. Even controlling overloaded vehicles plying in the capital would be a starting point.  

The auto association says the government needs to evolve a proper system like a scrappage policy (as was carried out in Europe a few years ago) and offer excise incentives to make scrapping of 15-year-old vehicles attractive for vehicle owners so that the vehicle is not impounded in the capital and sold elsewhere.

It has suggested a fleet modernisation programme to the Centre with 4 major aspects hinging on ground implementation. This would involve use of modern engines that are more fuel efficient and meet emission norms, sales of new vehicles to replace old ones and controlling of overloading. In addition newer technologies would improve the safety of occupants and vehicles.

The NGT in its latest order has asked for suggestions from the Delhi government and the transport department on incentivising the scrapping of old, polluting diesel vehicles and on fixing a cap on the number of vehicles to be registered in the capital.

The next hearing will be May 1 when the Delhi government will have to offer scientifically-backed suggestions to back the NGT ruling.