National Green Tribunal bans diesel vehicles older than 10 years in Delhi

New Delhi: In an effort to curb air pollution in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a landmark ruling Tuesday banned diesel vehicles over ten years old from plying on Delhi roads.

A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar passed the order and noted that countries like Denmark, Brazil, China and Sri Lanka are in the process of banning diesel vehicles.

"We may mention that a number of countries in the world are in the process or have prohibited diesel vehicles or are in the process of doing away with them by imposing very heavy taxes. We have already noticed that certain stringent measures need to be taken to ensure that residents of the area do not travel closer to ill-health with each breath they take," said the bench.

"We direct all diesel vehicles, heavy or light, which are ten years old will not be permitted on the roads of Delhi and NCR," it directed.

The Tribunal said due to the increasing pollutants of air, the life of residents of NCR Delhi is becoming more vulnerable to various diseases and the greatest sufferers are young children.

"It has been pointed out that diesel is the prime source of bringing air pollution in Delhi. Diesel fumes cause damage to the lungs, brain and can cause even cancer. The situation is so alarming that medically people have been even advised to leave Delhi," it said.

The Tribunal's direction came while hearing a petition of Vardhaman Kaushik who had contended that "the level of particulates in Delhi is rising manifold". 

During the proceedings, Kaushik argued that the state authorities have not shown any effort to implement the orders of the Tribunal.

It had also directed that wherever such vehicles are noticed, the concerned authorities shall take appropriate steps in accordance with law including seizure of the vehicles.

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Delhi had the worst air quality in the world while 12 other Indian cities also figured among the world’s worst 20.

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