Lok Sabha Question No. 3805 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-23
Subject: Exemption from ECC
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Krupal Balaji Tumane, Bhavana Gawali (Patil)

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  exempt  BS-VI  compliant vehicles from the levy of Environmental Compensation Cess (ECC) in view of their non-polluting standards;
- (b)  whether the Government proposes not to collect ECC from the vehicles coming to Delhi having a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate and if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be implemented;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to remove the ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and start registering new commercial
- vehicles above 2000 CC in Delhi/NCR and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  refund  the  wrongly
- deducted ECC on exempted vehicles;
- (e) the present status of truck drivers and transport operators in the current economic conditions in the country; and
- (f) the steps taken by the Government to improve their condition?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a)  &  (b)  There  is  no  proposal  under  consideration  with  Transport department, GNCT of Delhi to exempt BS-VI compliant vehicles from ECC, as imposed by Hon'ble Supreme Court on diesel vehicles vide

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3805

ANSWERED ON 23 RD  MARCH, 2023

## EXEMPTION FROM ECC

3805.     SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE: SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKRAO GAWALI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

order dated 09.10.2015 in the case titled Shri M.C.Mehta Vs.UOI in WPC 13029/85.

- (c) The Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi vide its order dated 26-11-2014 passed in O.A. No. 21 of 2014 Vardhaman Kaushik & Ors V/s UOI & Ors has banned all vehicles that are more than 15 years of age to ply in NCT of Delhi and vide its order dated 07-04-2015 passed in  O.A.  No.  21  of  2014  Vardhaman  Kaushik  &  Ors  V/s  UOI directed that all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old, will not be permitted on the roads of NCR, Delhi. Hon'ble Supreme Court in WP No 13029/1985 (M.C Mehta vs. UOI) vide its order dated 29.10.2018 directed that all the diesel vehicles more than  10 years' old and petrol vehicles more than 15 years' old shall not ply in terms of the order of the National Green Tribunal dated 07.04.2015.
- Therefore, there is no such proposal to remove the ban on plying on diesel  vehicles  older  than  10  years  in  the  Transport  Department, GNCTD. Further,  new  BS-VI   commercial  diesel  vehicles  are  being registered in NCT of Delhi in pursuance of orders of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, as detailed below :i)  BS-VI  Diesel  taxies  allowed  to  register  under  All  India  Tourist Permit  (AITP),  in  pursuance  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  in  WP  No 13029/1985 (M.C. Mehta V/s UOI) vide its order dated 10.05.2016 which  inter-alia  allowed  new  All  India  Tourist Taxies as AITP (N) category alongwith permit with the condition that these permits shall not authorize taxies to pickup or drop passenger point to point within the NCR. ii) The Goods Vehicle having gross vehicle weight 3001 kg to 7500 kg on National Permit in NCT of Delhi , in pursuance of Hon'ble Supreme Court order dated 16.12.2015 in WP No 13029/1985 (M.C. Mehta V/s UOI) which interalia directed that the 'new commercial light duty diesel vehicle can for the present, continue being registered in Delhi on  account  of  the  dependence  of  the  public  on  such  vehicles  for supply of essentials'. iii) In pursuance of Hon'ble Supreme Court order dated 22.03.2022 in WP No 13029/1985 (M.C. Mehta V/s UOI) which inter-alia directed that 'the registering authorities are directed to cons ider the applications for registration of BS-VI diesel light and heavy-duty vehicles for public utility  and  essential  services  in  accordance  with  law  without insisting on the applicants approaching this court for suitable order'. (d) In such cases, refund is made on spot at the same toll plaza by
- the toll operator.

(e) and (f)  No such study is conducted by this Ministry. However,  in pursuant to the decision to impose a complete lockdown in view of the threat imposed by the spread of Covid-19, this Ministry issued Advisories  dated  30.03.2020,  09.06.2020,  24.08.2020,  27.12.2020, 26.03.2021, 17.06.2021, 30.09.2021 and 07.10.2021 to Enforcement authorities of all States/UTs stating that the documents, related to Motor  Vehicles  Act,  1988  (MV  Act)  and  CMV  Rules,  1989   whose extension  of  validity  could  not  or  not  likely  to  be  granted  due  to COVID-19 pandemic and which had expired since 1st of February, 2020 or would  have expired by 31.10.2021, be treated as valid till 31.10.2021.

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