NGT issues notice to Delhi government over overage vehicles violating norms
Economic Times, 20 Dec '24
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the Transport Department, the Delhi government, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee following a plea alleging that a significant number of official vehicles operated by the Delhi government are overage and in violation of pollution control norms.
The plea was filed by MLA Jitendra Mahajan, who also serves as the Chairman of the State Development Committee, Shahdara.
Mahajan asserted that the authorities responsible for enforcing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are themselves failing to comply with its provisions.
He informed the NGT that his application was based on personal observations regarding the non-compliance of pollution norms by his own official vehicle.
"I requested the Delhi government to arrange for the servicing of my official vehicle, which was assigned to me four years ago. However, the government ignored my request. I later discovered that the vehicle lacked a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. Additionally, I learned that many official vehicles are operating without valid PUC or insurance certificates. Ironically, ordinary citizens face a fine of Rs. 10,000 (US$ 120) for not possessing a PUC certificate," stated Mahajan.
In 2015, the NGT directed that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years would not be permitted to operate in the National Capital Region (NCR). In 2018, the Supreme Court reinforced this directive, mandating transport departments in Delhi and neighbouring states to strictly enforce the prohibition of such vehicles.
Adherence to this rule is a requirement under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan.
The tribunal noted that the applicant's counsel referred to a list identifying 107 vehicles operated by the Delhi government that have exceeded their operational lifespan of 10 to 15 years but continue to ply on the roads.
"The counsel has submitted that several of these vehicles are being operated without valid PUC or insurance certificates," observed the bench, presided over by Justice Prakash Shrivastava.
The bench directed the respondents to submit their responses and scheduled the next hearing for 20th February.
