NGT seeks number of vehicles registered in Delhi in 2 years

The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday sought to know from Delhi’s transport department the total number of vehicles registered in 2014 and 2015, saying diesel vehicles caused 27 times more pollution than petrol-driven ones.

“Issue notice to RTO Delhi to place statement before the Tribunal as to how many diesel and petrol vehicles were registered in 2014 and 2015. This data will include all kinds of vehicles — heavy or otherwise,” a Bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said while posting the matter for August 27.

The Tribunal’s direction came while hearing a case relating to air pollution in Delhi-NCR region.

“How many countries in the world have taken a decision to ban diesel vehicles? Can you deny the fact that diesel vehicles cause 27 times more pollution than petrol vehicles as far as PM2.5 levels are concerned?” the Bench asked. Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, said there was no such data to support such fact.

ASG said the ministry was already taking efforts to improve the standards of diesel engine manufacturing by introducing stricter emission norms. She said that the ministry proposed to introduce BS-V norms by 2019 and BS-VI by the year 2023.

The Tribunal had earlier refused to modify its order banning <g data-gr-id="21">plying</g> of diesel vehicles, which were over 10 years old in Delhi-NCR, and said it was for the Delhi government and the concerned authorities to decide on the issue of <g data-gr-id="20">challaning</g> such vehicles or not.