Auto makers term NGT order on diesel vehicles as 'ridiculous'

New Delhi: Auto industry Friday termed the NGT order banning the registration of diesel vehicles in the Capital as "ridiculous" and said the "knee jerk" reaction of the tribunal would not help in the reduction of air pollution.

Earlier in the day, the National Green Tribunal had ordered that diesel-run vehicles will not be registered in Delhi and there will be no renewal of registration of such vehicles which are more than 10-year-old.

"We definitely do not agree with the NGT order at all. This is not based on any scientific fact or study," Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) Director General Vishnu Mathur told PTI.

The Delhi government has already commissioned a Source Apportionment study with IIT Kanpur. The NGT should have waited for the study, he added.

"What was the hurry. Whatever we have seen in the study only 2.5 percent of pollution is accounted by cars, both petrol and diesel cars. So to take such a drastic measure to address 2.5 percent of pollution in Delhi is a ridiculous step and it is not going to help reduce pollution in Delhi," Mathur said.

When asked if SIAM would approach Supreme Court regarding the matter, Mathur said: "We have not decided yet. All the members will have to sit and decide."

He also added that a lot of authorities have started taking decisions on technology and regulatory matters of the auto industry.

"Today we have plethora of authorities who have started taking decisions on technology and regulatory matters of the auto industry without understanding the issue and influenced by the NGOs. This is creating huge amount of confusion and misinformation in the minds of all the stakeholders including public, industry, government etc," he said.

Auto industry is a capital intensive industry requiring long term plan on regulatory issues. Such "knee jerk reactions" can derail the entire automotive industry with its consequent impact on the manufacturing sector as a while and on large scale employment, he added.

"This is also detrimental to the agenda of Make in India," he said.

Commenting on diesel engines, Mathur said that it is not proper to 'stigmatise' the technology which meets all the current emission norms.

"It is not proper to stigmatise diesel technology especially when it is meeting all the norms including BS IV emission norms. Diesel technology emits low CO2 and is highly fuel efficient," he added.

The green panel today also questioned Delhi government's odd-even formula for vehicles to check pollution in the national capital, saying it may not achieve the desired purpose.