Agreeing to hear the plea of Delhi’s Car dealers’ association, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked for the clarification of the stand from the Delhi government and the Centre on the issue of capping and scrapping of diesel cars and asked them to make their stand known on Wednesday.
This was after the car dealers’ association submitted a plea seeking modification of the order banning registration of new diesel vehicles in the Capital city.
Notices were issued to ministries of Road and Transport, Environment and Forests, Heavy Industries as well as Delhi government from the Bench headed by Justice Swantanter Kumar. Representing the car dealers, senior advocate Pinaki Mishra said: “We are saddled with stocks of 2015 which would be difficult to dispose of in 2016 due to order passed by NGT.” Calling the decision by the Tribunal harsh, Mishra asked for modification of the order so that the inventory of the dealers could be sold off. The Tribunal Bench, however, commented that since a similar case was also in Supreme Court, it would be improper for them to say anything.
The Tribunal, however, has directed the concerned authorities to file their reply by Wednesday and make their stand clear on the issue. “We have no doubts on the scheme. We observed certain things just because we want result out of it. Government is the final authority in the matter. It is for them to take a stand,” it said.
When asked to comment on the issue, an official from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said: “It would be too early to comment on the matter now but ultimately we will want an order which is favourable to the business interests as well as environment”.