Apex court upholds ban on sale of large diesel vehicles in Delhi

And the growing concern in Delhi right now, among other things, is the density of PM2.5 (particulates sized 2.5 microns or smaller) in the air. It also banned heavy commercial vehicles from entering Delhi from four additional entry points – NH2, NH10, NH58 and state highway 57 – but permitted their entry on payment of a pollution cess.

The fresh prohibition will restrict heavy traffic inflow in Delhi from Faridabad, Palwal, Ghaziabad and Baghpat.

It is important to note at this point that diesel vehicles are being targetted in Delhi owing to the Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) that is an output of diesel combustion. “You have to satisfy us on that aspect”, the Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices A.K. Sikri and R. Banumathi said.

Aside from vehicle fumes, millions of India’s poor burn wood fires for domestic use as well as farming, while wealthier residents fire up diesel generators as grid electricity supply is unreliable.

Refusing to soften its clampdown on the registration of diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2000cc or above, the court asked senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi to pass over whatever material they had in support of their contention for relaxing the order to amicus curiae Harish Salve who would submit a report after ascertaining the views of the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).

In addition to upholding the ban on big diesel vehicles, the Supreme court has also the Central government to replace all government vehicles running on diesel, which are older than five years. “How can the government be a polluter?” the judges asked.

The court, on December 16, had unveiled a slew of measures to curb the alarming rise in pollution levels in the national capital.

It had directed that “all taxis including those operating under aggregators like OLA and UBER in the NCT of Delhi, plying under city permits shall move to CNG not later than 1st March, 2016”.

The court was hearing various pleas including a 1984 PIL filed by environmentalist M C Mehta on the issue.