NGT asks Govt. to ‘clarify’ stand

The National Green Tribunal has asked the Centre and Delhi governments to clarify their stand on capping and scrapping of diesel cars.

A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to Ministries of Road Transport, Environment and Forests and Heavy Industries as well as Delhi government and others as they were all ears to pleas of car dealers asking for modifications to the ban.

Senior advocate Pinaki Misra appeared for Delhi-based car dealers. He said the NGT has passed a ‘harsh’ direction. "We are saddled with stocks of 2015 which would be difficult to dispose in 2016 due the order passed by NGT," Misra said.

He asked the NGT to modify the order so that existing stocks of diesel cars can be sold as year-end meant discounts, and high volume sale was expected. The NGT, however, said that a similar matter was scheduled for hearing in Supreme Court so it will not be proper for it to pass any directions.

"If a similar matter is there in Supreme Court, it would be improper on our part to say anything," the bench said.

"We have no doubts on the scheme. We observed certain things just because we want results out of it. Government is the final authority in the matter. It is for them to take a stand," it said.

According to the NGT, Diesel was the prime source of air pollution in Delhi. So alarming was the situation that people have been even advised to leave Delhi due to it’s adverse effects.

Image credit: Indiatimes