Arguing that a diesel vehicle emits pollution equal to 24 petrol vehicles, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday refused to lift the ban on 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR.
Dismissing the Centre’s plea seeking modification of its ban order on diesel vehicles, the NGT said: “One diesel vehicle causes pollution equal to 24 petrol vehicles and 40 CNG vehicles. All diesel vehicles more than 10 years will have to go.”
The NGT has in April 2015 banned all 10-year-old diesel vehicles from plying on Delhi roads, a decision welcomed by the state government as well as experts.
The court later held that the process of deregistration would begin with scrapping of 15-year-old diesel vehicles.
Following which, the Centre moved the Supreme Court against the order and suggested that the NGT that instead of banning old diesel vehicles, must consider ways to tackle bigger causes of pollution such as crop burning and road dust.