: The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises on Monday moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking directions not to extend to other cities the Supreme Court-mandated ban on registration of vehicles beyond 2000 cc on the grounds that it would have an adverse effect on the growth of the automobile industry.
The Ministry, which has filed an application for impleadment in a case related to the air pollution, has also requested the green panel not to apply any restrictions on “sale and registration” of vehicles which comply with the statutory emission norms irrespective of the fuel used.
“The Supreme Court had passed an order on December 16, 2015, banning the registration of SUV and private cars of the capacity of 2000 cc and above and using diesel as fuel in the NCR up to March 31, 2016. Subsequently, the Supreme Court had extended the ban till April 30, 2016, and on April 30, 2016, the Supreme Court had maintained the status quo. In light of the above developments, the Department of Heavy Industry is of the view that the extension of the above ban to 11 cities would have adverse effect on the momentum of growth of auto industry...,” the Ministry said in its plea before a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.
Major contributor
to GDP
It said the automobile industry contributed to more than 47 per cent of the manufacturing GDP of the country. Besides, it is the fifth largest sector receiving Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India.
The Ministry further said it had taken measures to balance the requirements of protecting environment and carrying out sustained economic development, which was being guided through the ‘Make in India’ campaign.
The Ministry said all four-wheeled vehicles currently manufactured conformed to the BS-IV norms specified by the government, except heavy vehicles which conformed to the BS-III norms and as such, their sales and registration couldn’t be justifiably banned.
Manufacturers’ rights
The plea further said that any orders restricting the registration or sale of vehicles which complied with all legal norms “would impinge on the rights of manufacturers to lawfully carry out business in the country”.
“The fuel and automobile industries have to make substantial investments to comply with these stringent norms. The investment requirements for this transition are huge, and the industry needs sufficient time for the same,” it said. — PTI
