NGT directs RTO to de-register diesel vehicles over 10 years old in Delhi

The National Green Tribunal today directed the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Delhi to de-register with immediate effect all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old. The green panel said the RTO, after de-registration, will issue public notice in this regard and supply the list of such vehicles to Delhi Traffic Police which will take appropriate steps in consonance with directions of tribunal.

“We hereby direct RTO, Delhi to deregister all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old,” a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The tribunal passed the order after noting submissions of Delhi Police which said that it has made continuous attempts to stop vehicles which were more than 10 years old from plying on the roads of the national capital.

“But they have hardly met any success,” the bench noted. The traffic police submitted that in order to stop such vehicles, they have time and again issued challans and levied fine on offending vehicles but it has not fetched any result.

“It is also stated that vehicles are released by the magistrates after imposing fine under the Motor Vehicle Act and the vehicles surface again on the roads,” the bench noted. It also directed Ministry of Heavy Industries to file an affidavit giving the status of electric and hybrid vehicles in the country and also mention as to what benefits the ministry was considering for those who wish to dispose off their old vehicles.

It also ordered the ministry to write a letter to Chief Secretaries of all the states within one week in this regard. During the last hearing, the tribunal had indicated de-registration of 10 years old diesel vehicles after it was told by the counsel for Delhi government that over 3,000 such vehicles were impounded in last one year.

The NGT had taken Delhi government to task for its failure to implement its order banning such vehicles from plying on the roads here. While answering tribunal’s query as to why its order was not being implemented, the government’s counsel had said that due to lack of law in this regard, the impounded vehicles got relief from the magisterial court.

The NGT had also slammed the government over incidents of waste burning and dust pollution in the national capital. It had also asked Delhi government and other authorities to create awareness about air pollution caused by vehicular emissions and burning of municipal solid waste and issue advertisements on the lines of the odd-even scheme.