AAP govt makes plan to remove diesel vehicles as per NGT order

Delhi government today said it was working on a detailed plan of action to remove around 1.53 lakh diesel vehicles older than 10 years from the city roads in compliance with an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai said the city government was determined to ensure full implementation of the NGT order and has already sought Centre's assistance in enforcing the ban.
As per official figure, around 1.53 lakh diesel-run vehicles older than 10 years are plying in the city and Rai said his department was preparing a comprehensive plan to remove all of them.

He said the Delhi government will discuss the issue of implementing the ban with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments too as large number of polluting vehicles come to Delhi from these two states.
He said the Transport Department was not in a position to implement the ban on its own due to staff crunch and that is why it has also requested Delhi Police for help to take action against the polluting vehicles.
"We are serious about implementing the NGT order. We have written to the Centre and Delhi Traffic Police to help us in enforcing the order," Rai said.

In a major decision to improve ambient air quality, the NGT on Tuesday had held that all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old will not be permitted to ply in Delhi, noting that diesel was prime source of air pollution.

"We have also sought the Centre's help to implement the NGT court order as an amendment in the existing law may be required to remove the polluting vehicles," he said.
Rai said his department has sought 250 civil defence personnel so that several crack teams could be formed to remove the vehicles ordered by the NGT.
"At present, we have 166 staff in enforcement section, which is inadequate," Rai said.