 "SC mulls regulating diesel cars in Delhi")
Salve told the bench, presided over by Chief Justice T S Thakur on Thursday, that diesel is 40 per cent cheaper than normal fuel and, therefore, people are going for diesel cars, though the subsidised price is meant for trucks carrying consumer goods and agriculture. A panel set up by the court had suggested to the government to offset the price advantage and limit the registration of diesel cars, but the finance ministry has been unwilling to take any measure. Even if diesel cars are barred in the city, car rental firms and others will go to satellite towns and get them registered. The government is not serious about the rampant use of diesel, the counsel said.
Salve pointed out that the court had ordered in 2001 to construct a bypass around Delhi so that trucks which carry goods to destinations other than the city could avoid the capital. Even after 14 years, the order has not been implemented, adding to the prevailing emergency situation in the capital. The chief justice suggested a multi-pronged approach to tackle the situation. He said he felt embarrassed to explain the problem to a visiting judge of the international court of justice recently.
The recent order to collect toll from trucks entering Delhi to discourage their entry has also run into difficulties, with the consortium which is entrusted with the task telling the court that its finance will collapse if the order is fully implemented.
The court asked the corporation authorities to be ready with an alternative plan if the present agent quits. Salve suggested complete stoppage of entry of trucks for six weeks in view of the emergency situation the city was facing for the past three weeks. He said 50,000 trucks are entering the capital at night, whereas less than half of them are carrying goods to the Delhi market. The trucks can avoid Delhi by other routes, but they have to drive 30 km extra which they want to avoid.