India Supreme Court cracks down on Delhi vehicle pollution

The registration of sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and other diesel cars with an engine capacity of 2,000 cc or more is banned in the Capital and the surrounding region with immediate effect until March 31. Further, Delhi contributes about 7% of the overall passenger vehicle sales and the contribution of diesel vehicles is about 2-3% of the overall industry volumes which would further limit the impact of the ban. The court set the March 31deadline for it.

“We direct all taxis including those operating under aggregators like Ola and Uber in the NCT of Delhi, playing under city permits, shall move to CNG not later than March 1, 2016”, the bench said.

A 100 percent increase in the surcharge would imply that light commercial vehicles with two axles will be required to pay Rs. 1,400 to enter Delhi and commercial vehicles with three and four axles will have to pay Rs. 2,600 for each trip for entering Delhi.

India’s Supreme Court recently announced that some pretty radical measures were taken against pollution by banning new diesel vehicle sales in Delhi, and also doubling a “green-tax” imposed on trucks coming into the city. This follows close on the heels of the order of the National Green Tribunal last week that banned the registration of all diesel cars till January 6.

It is notable that while taking these urgent decisions the Chief Justice bench has also scheduled hearing for longer term solutions including leapfrogging emissions standards for vehicles to Euro VI while introducing the current emission standards in Delhi nation-wide immediately; action on power plants; and public transport strategy for Delhi and NCR. “If you believe this is the way forward, then go ahead and implement”, the court told the Delhi government. Also banned are trucks more than 10 year old to ply in Delhi.

Dealers in Delhi are already trying to send about 2,000 unsold – now banned – diesel vehicles to other dealerships in India or back to carmakers, said K.V.S. Rao, president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA). State governments and Union Territories concerned shall ensure that vehicles bearing registration numbers of the year 2005 or earlier do not enter Delhi. The true intention, however, was that the vehicles that are not bound for Delhi are diverted to alternative routes to bypass Delhi.

Citing the study, it said vehicles are responsible for only 20 per cent of the pollution in Delhi, out of which only 14-15 per cent is attributable to passenger cars.

The court said that all those engaged in construction activity would observe the Central Pollution Control Board norms by putting curtains and other devices at construction sites.

Suraj Ghosh, Principal Analyst, IHS Automotive says on the matter, “It is commendable that steps are being taken by government and judiciary against the degrading air quality in New Delhi and adjoining NCR cities, but this SC order appears as a knee jerk reaction to the problem of rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR”.