NGT bans over 10 year old diesel vehicles in Kerala

Diesel vehicles aged over 10 years to be banned in Kerela. Registration of new diesel vehicles above 2,000cc also suspended.

After imposing ban on diesel cars of above 2-litres of engine capacity in New Delhi, National Green Tribunal (NGT) has now banned 10 year old diesel vehicles from plying on roads in Kerela. The green tribunal’s latest order also prevents the state government from registering new diesel vehicles above 2-litres engine capacity, except for those used for public transport or government sector.

As per the ruling, light and heavy diesel vehicles which have been running for 10 years or more would no longer be allowed to be driven in 6 cities of the state, namely - Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur. NGT’s order will be imposed in a month’s time, post which violators will be fined Rs 5,000 – in the name of ‘environmental compensation’. This money will be used by the authorities to clean up the environment in these cities, said the bench which passed this order.

The NGT has also banned registration of all new diesel vehicles above 2,000cc in the state – a move identical to the one that’s being followed in New Delhi/NCR since January 2016. However, compared to the cars running around Delhi/NCR, the number of high-capacity diesel vehicles plying on the aforementioned six cities will be significantly less. The pollution levels in this region are also understood to be much lower as compared to Delhi. Also per a report, 4 lakh vehicles will have to be taken off the state’s roads if this order is implemented, while the sales of UVs/SUVs/MUVs will also take a massive hit. Considering all of that, NGT’s latest move comes across as a bit short-sighted.

Also read: SIAM highlights facts on diesel car ban