NGT to Hear SIAM Plea on Diesel Ban

Diesel ban india delhi

NGT to hear SIAM plea on diesel ban as manufacturers raise concerns over the feasibility of the Indian auto industry

The NGT (National Green Tribunal) has received a plea from auto industry governing body SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) regarding the ban on diesel vehicles in Delhi and NCR region citing the soaring levels of pollution scale. SIAM filed the plea through lawyer Vardhaman Kaushik and wants justification over the methods adopted by NGT in framing this regulation.

At the end of last year, Supreme Court implemented the ban on registration of diesel vehicles with over 2,000 cc engine capacity. While it had been temporarily imposed, the apex court decided to extend the restriction until further orders. The over-a-decade old diesel vehicles have also been stopped from plying on the roads of the national capital subsequently.

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The plea states that the environmental regulators issued notices to 15 other cities seeking information over air pollution and possible solutions in January this year. Earlier NGT claimed vehicles are the major sources of polluting the cities but SIAM dismisses it and said “scientific and professional approach” are long due for controlling pollution in the country.

An estimated study from IIT Kanpur commissioned by Delhi state government reported that PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5 emission caused by passenger vehicles accounts to only 2 percent and 1.5 percent from diesel vehicles. This has been dragged into the argument by SIAM. The application further argued that despite the number of vehicles in Delhi is much higher than in any of the 15 listed cities, the diesel vehicles cannot be considered as the ace contributor for the increasing air pollution.

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The hearing could play a big part in the future outcome of the diesel ban which was extended to major cities of Kerala recently. Other state governments are reportedly looking at possible ways of implementing such regulations to curb air pollution amidst the rising voices from several automakers. Toyota, Tata Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Maruti Suzuki and others have pointed the possible loss of jobs, revising product and investment strategy as they seek credibility of the ban.

Source: ET Auto