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This story is from July 4, 2015

Ahead of NGT order, no clarity: Delhi willing, Centre opposes

In a couple of weeks, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) will deliver an order which is likely to have a major impact on Delhi’s air quality. The tribunal will decide whether diesel vehicles more than 10 years old would be phased out.
Ahead of NGT order, no clarity: Delhi willing, Centre opposes
NEW DELHI: In a couple of weeks, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) will deliver an order which is likely to have a major impact on Delhi’s air quality. The tribunal will decide whether diesel vehicles more than 10 years old would be phased out.
However, the deadlock between Delhi government and the Centre over banning such vehicles is yet to be resolved.

Environment department officials told TOI that Delhi government is willing to implement complete phasing out of diesel vehicles, but the Centre has to make necessary amendments to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMVR).
In its last affidavit to NGT, Delhi transport department submitted that it has asked the ministry of road transport and highways to take a view on fixing the life for both private and commercial vehicles.
The state government, under rule 115 of CMVR, also requested the ministry to “issue amendments and direction to auto manufacturers” about phasing out vehicles to meet emission norms.
The Centre, however, has already filed an application against phasing out vehicles more than ten years old. It has also submitted various scientific studies by IIT Delhi backing their argument that the number of old diesel vehicles in Delhi is small and banning them will have a negligible impact on air quality.

In fact, it even submitted that emissions from the transport sector are not major.
“We have communicated to NGT that Delhi can phase out old vehicles, but it will require time,” said Delhi government lawyers. This is because the state also has several diesel vehicles more than 10 years old. The fire department has 248 vehicles, including water tenders or bowsers, out of which 112 are more than 10 years old.
Delhi Transport Corporation in its affidavit has submitted that it has 30 diesel trucks that are 10-11 years old and 20 older trucks used as recovery vans. “Also, there are some ambulances that are old. These are practical difficulties that we will face. However, the CM in a joint meeting told us that the government will implement NGT’s order,” an official said.
Delhi government will participate in joint meeting called by the Union transport ministry on July 13 with Haryana, UP and Rajasthan on addressing air pollution.
Delhi environment minister, Asim Ahmed Khan is likely to discuss the issue of phasing out old vehicles in the meeting.
The transport department in its affidavit has suggested against increasing road tax in Delhi as it already higher than Haryana. Its view is that other NCR states should increase road tax.
However, both Delhi and central governments are willing to phase out vehicles more than 15 years old.
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