National Green Tribunal refuses to lift ban on 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday rejected Centre's plea seeking the removal of the ban on 10-year-old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR.

NGT said that diesel vehicles cause 24 times more pollution than Petrol Vehicles and 40 times more than CNG vehicles, therefore, the ban can not be lifted.

"One diesel vehicle causes pollution equal to 24 petrol vehicles and 40 CNG vehicles," the tribunal said.

The Centre had earlier opposed the ban, saying there was a “misconception” that only diesel pollutes the environment.

A bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar dismissed government’s plea on the ground that the Supreme Court has also junked a similar plea.

Last year, taking note of the "environmental emergency" caused by one of the worst stretches of air pollution in Delhi, the tribunal had ordered govt. to deregister diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR which were more than 10-year-old.

(With Agency Inputs)