1.8 lakh diesel vehicles in the city will go on a permanent rest, as National Green Tribunal's July order to “deregister“ all diesel vehicles older than 15 years is finally going to be implemented by the Delhi government, with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung on Mondayasking the transport department to act on the ruling immediately.
In a meeting at Raj Niwas the decision is to be implemented in Delhi due to air pollution. Deregistration of all these diesel vehicles will start soon by all motor licensing officers (MLOs) as ordered by Jung. As per a press statement issued by the LG's office, “This will bring about a reduction of 2 lakh diesel vehicles on Delhi's roads.“
An immediate ban is going to hamper entry of overloaded trucks and non-destined trucks, particularly those from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, by the transport department and Delhi Police. “In two days, engineers will work out a solution to turn away these trucks from Delhi,“ Jung said. Authorities have been informed to vigorously check pollution-under-control certificates and “take strictest action against violators“. Moreover Smoke meters will also be planted at all border points.
A long list of measures comes on the heels of similar directions from NGT. The transport department has already stopped re-registration of both petrol and diesel vehicles that are more than 15 years old for several months now. Monday's order will shackle 79,803 private diesel vehicles.
The strict enforcement of the NGT order could take these vehicles completely off roads believes Officials. However, an official said many of the small commercial vehicles were still in use despite not being re-registered.
Point to be noticed for many owners is that the order is to be implemented in a phased manner. Vehicles older than 10 years but less than 15 years can get a no-objection certificate from the transport department, enabling the owners to sell or re-register the vehicles outside NCR. But, for the private diesel vehicles older than 15 years, it's a death alarm. “We have already got a year-wise list of vehicles which are between 10 and 15 years“ said a government official.
