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Delhi

Delhi govt resumes registration of diesel ambulances above 2000cc in Capital

The registration of diesel ambulances with an engine capacity of 2,000 cc has resumed in Delhi after a ban was imposed on registration of diesel vehicles on the direction of the Supreme Court.

The Transport Department has started collecting 1 per cent of the ex-showroom price of such vehicles as green cess. This comes after the Apex Court on August 12 allowed registration of diesel ambulance cars with engine capacity of 2,000 cc. The owners of these vehicles will have to deposit one per of their ex–showroom price as green cess with the transport department. “The money collected from green cess will be utilised in controlling pollution in the city,” said a senior officer of the Delhi government. 

The government order and guidelines for the registration were due after the Supreme Court order in August which has allowed registration of diesel vehicles with 2,000 cc capacity and above albeit they pay one percent of the ex show–room cost as “green cess”. Such vehicles which come in the category of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are also used as ambulances for the larger space inside, swift seep and comfortable journey. 

“As these vehicles are larger in size and have adequate height, they prove to be very comfortable ambulances after conversion so are preferred by private ambulance operators and charity institutions,” added the officer. The Delhi government has recently inducted 155 ambulances under CATS but the demand in the city is manifold than what is provided by the government agencies. Besides, being the national Capital, a large number of patients are brought here for treatment from neighbouring states in ambulances. The government has, however, not finalised any plan on how the fund will be used for controlling pollution in the city. 

A three judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, and justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi; in its order on August 13 this year has lifted the eight-month-old ban on the registration of large vehicles fuelled by diesel in Delhi and the NCR. The court made it conditional on manufactures to pay a levy for polluting the city’s air. In the order, the court also directed the government to use the fund in controlling air pollution. The same Bench had banned the registration of luxury automobiles and sport utility vehicles with an engine capacity in excess of 2,000 cc in Delhi and NCR. 
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