Diesel ban: Geete asks auto cos not to take ‘panga’ with courts
31 Aug 2016 5:55 AM IST
Union Minister Anant Geete on Tuesday said the auto industry has the government’s backing on the issue of high-capacity diesel cars, but cautioned it against taking “panga” (messing) with courts that had banned such vehicles.
The remarks followed the comments made by SIAM President Vinod Dasari, who said the industry lost Rs 4,000 crore in eight months following the ban in Delhi-NCR, which was lifted by the Supreme Court earlier this month. “Vinod Dasari... expressed unhappiness at the position adopted by the court on pollution. I would like to tell Vinod Dasari, don’t take panga with courts. There is no need for you to take this panga,” Geete said while addressing a conference .
Speaking at the 58th annual session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) earlier on Tuesday, Dasari had said it was “improper information” to the courts coupled with media hype that led to the ban on the diesel vehicles.
“Led by media hype, provided with improper information, the courts decided to ban those vehicles which actually meet the standards set by the government. It is for the first time that when you meet the law, you actually get penalised. The auto industry has lost Rs 4,000 crore in the last eight months,” Dasari said. He is of the view that everyone wants to regulate the auto industry without looking at the real cause of pollution.
Dasari, who is also MD of Ashok Leyland, added: “I feel everyone wants to regulate the auto industry. Let’s take the Delhi example. Every winter when there is fog, there is a lot of media hype, lots of NGOs get involved. They blame one industry that everyone wants to blame -- auto industry.”
“Perhaps for the first time..., four ministries including the department of heavy industry, road transport, forests and environment and petroleum & natural gas, had come together and were discussing the issue of pollution with the court in one voice,” Geete, who holds the portfolio of heavy industries, added.
Auto industry lost Rs 4k cr in 8 mths
The auto industry suffered a loss of Rs 4,000 crore in 8 months following the ban on sale of diesel vehicles in engine capacity of 2,000cc and above in Delhi/NCR, SIAM President Vinod Dasari said on Tuesday. The Supreme Court, however, had earlier this month lifted the ban on the registration of such diesel vehicles with one per cent environment cess. Speaking at the 58th Annual Session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), Dasari said it was “improper information” supplied to the courts which led to the ban on diesel vehicles.
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