NGT Penalises Volkswagen Rs. 100 Crore For Violating Emission Norms

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Volkswagen announced a recall of 3.23 lakh cars in India as part of the emission scandal but the company approved the software for 70 percent of cars only

Ever since the diesel emission scandal in 2015, Volkswagen has been paying hefty amount as fine in different countries for using the cheating device during emission tests. In 2015, ARAI tested 11 Volkswagen group cars and found out that they used this software in India also, as the cars produced 1.1 to 2.6 times higher emissions than applicable.

Later the company clarified that they had decided to recall 3.23 lakh cars in India as part of the emission scandal. They have given detailed plans to NGT also and till now they have recalled only 64 per cent cars only. Earlier this year, NGT has asked Volkswagen to give reasons for not recalling the entire cars and informed them that they might face penal action.

The council of manufacturers have informed NGT that new software was approved for 70 percent cars only but the company is yet to submit the updated software for remaining cars. Now the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked Volkswagen to pay an interim amount of Rs. 100 crore to Environment Ministry’s Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel as Chairperson formed a committee which includes officials from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). The committee will calculate the actual quantum of environmental loss.

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The NGT has asked the new committee to submit the report within a month and asked Volkswagen and the Petitioner to appear before the council within a week. We have reported earlier that the Council has already received a plea from people across different parts of the country to ban sales of Volkswagen cars in India.

The company need to take swift action or else things will go out of hands as the government is giving more importance for emission norms to make nature clean. Volkswagen has lots of ambitious plans as they are going to invest Rs. 7,900 crore in India and Skoda will take the lead in the development of new made-for-India models based on MQB A0 IN platform.