Lok Sabha Question No. 2709 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-02
Subject: Ban on Diesel Cars
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P. C. MOHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2709

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02/08/2016

## Ban on Diesel Cars

## 2709. SHRI P.C. MOHAN:

to state:

- (a)   whether the Government is aware of the fact that the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority has made a plea to stop using diesel cars in Delhi to the Apex Court;
- (b)   if  so,  the  suggestions  given  by  the  Central  Pollution  Control  Board  through  an application filed by them five years ago;
- (c)   whether the Ministry is having any proposal to convert all diesel cars plying in Delhi and NCR to CNG and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)   whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  put  a  ban  on  sale  of  diesel  vehicles  in  Delhi  and NCR?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a)  &  (b)  Yes,  Sir.  Environment  Pollution  (Prevention  and  Control)  Authority  (EPCA)  in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 13029 of 1985 in the matter of "M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India & Ors." filed a report No. 32 dated March, 2007 suggesting the Supreme Court for directions to stop use of diesel in personal transport vehicles in the city of Delhi including restriction to be applied to vehicles entering the city from neighbouring states.  It was also contended before the  Supreme  Court  on  16 th December,  2015  " that  since  the  diesel  vehicles  are  the  most polluting  vehicles  contributing  to  the  current  state  of  affairs  in  Delhi,  it  is  time  to  issue directions banning registration of any new private and / commercial light duty diesel vehicles in the National Capital Region '. Central Pollution Control Board has informed that it had not filed any application in this regard five years ago.

(c) No,  Sir.    The  Supreme  Court  in  Writ  Petition  No.  13029  of  1985  in  the  matter  of 'M.C. Mehta versus Union of India & Others' vide its Order dated 5 th January, 2016 directed that all taxis operating in NCR be converted to CNG.  The Supreme Court in its Order dated

10 th May, 2016 also directed that registration of new city taxies shall be permitted only if the vehicles operate on duel fuel or petrol or CNG and no vehicle shall be registered as city taxi if it runs on diesel fuel. Further, the Supreme Court passed orders regarding conversion and operation of All India Tourist Permit  taxies in National Capital Region (NCR).

(d) No, Sir. However, the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 13029 of 1985 in the matter of 'M.C. Mehta versus Union of India & Others' has passed an Order dated 16 th December,  2015  banning  registration  of  SUVs  and  private  cars  of  2,000  cc  and  above capacity using diesel in the NCR. The apex court on 4 th July, 2016 has reserved its order on pleas for  lifting  its  ban  on  registration  of  diesel  cars  with  engine  capacity  of  2,000  cc  and above in the NCR.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on 07.04.2015 restrained diesel vehicles older than  10  years  from  plying  in  Delhi.  The  NGT  also  ordered  on  20 th July,  2016  that deregistration  of  the  diesel  vehicles,  more  than  10  years  old  shall  be  complied  with effectively and without default. The  deregistration authorities were  directed to start deregistration with reference to the oldest of the vehicles, in other words at the first step the vehicles which are more than 15 years old would be deregistered and then gradually other vehicles would be deregistered from 15 years to 10 years.  It was further ordered by NGT that diesel vehicles which are more than 15 years old and are BS-I and BS-II compliant shall be scrapped and no NOC will be issued for transfer of the vehicles.

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