Old diesel trucks: NGT slams Centre, Delhi govt
10 February ,New Delhi
Taking a note of the alarming rise in air pollution, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) today slammed the Centre and Delhi government over not submitting their views on phasing out decade-old diesel run vehicles in their departments, despite its specific directions given on December 11.
The Green panel, had on December 11 last year, directed the Central and state governments to consider not buying new diesel vehicles for their departments and asked them to submit the action plan for disposing of diesel vehicles which were more than 10 years old.
However, no suggestion, action plan or response have been filed by the state and central authorities on the issue till date.”We had asked for an detailed action plan for phasing out of diesel vehicles particularly the high commercial vehicles. You have not responded on the issue as to why we should not ban old government department diesel vehicles… You also didn’t provide us the action report on how the decade-old vehicles to be disposed..” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar questioned.
The NGT was hearing the plea filed by South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s (SDMC) seeking directions to buy the new procurement of diesel-run Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs), adhering to BS-IV norms, for carrying out garbage disposal operations in South Delhi area.The plea contends to the NGT ‘s previous order that banned decade old diesel run vehicles in the city in order to curb vehicular emission that led to the massive air pollution in the capital.
Following that, the Supreme Court also restricted the diesel-run SUVs and cars having capacity beyond 2000 cc to ply on Delhi and National Capital Region till March 31.The SDMC further contended that non-registration of HCVs by the transport department led to the poor-implementation of garbage disposal operations in South district of the capital.”Non-registration of vehicles by the transport department is leading to non-implementation of the projects of garbage disposal.
As a result the existing concessionaire is asked to continue with prevalent system which is not environment friendly,” it said.The SDMC further said it required — 48 three-wheeler e-rickshaws, 308 CNG based auto tippers, 43 compactors on diesel based heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) for MSW, 18 auto tippers for silt removal, 8 Tata 1109 closed body dumpers for street waste on diesel based HCV.