‘Decision to phase out old diesel cars after study’

The Centre will make any decision on phasing out older diesel cars only after conducting a scientific study on emission levels of such vehicles, which is underway, Parliament was informed on Monday.

“Department of Heavy Industries has instituted a study on the emission levels by various diesel vehicles as compared to the source of air pollution. Only after the scientific study, any decision to phase out older vehicles can be taken,” Minister of State for Mansukh Lal Mandaviya told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Mansukh Lal said the Supreme Court vide order dated December 16, 2015, has directed that the registration of SUVs and private cars of the capacity of 2000 CC and above using diesel as fuel shall stand banned in the NCR up to March 31, 2016.

However, the Supreme Court in June had said it was open to lifting the ban on their registration in Delhi and NCR, subject to a levy of one-time environment compensation cess.