CSE welcomes NGT stand on old vehicles,seeks strict compliance

Welcoming the NGT's verdict of not permitting vehicles which are more than 15 years old to ply on the city roads, a research and advocacy group today said the green tribunal should also assess the effectiveness in meeting clean air targets and increase higher degree of stringency.
Terming it as "a step forward in right direction", the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the ambit of the action plan should also be expanded to the entire national capital region (NCR) for effective impact.
Dismayed at increasing air pollution in the national capital, the National Green Tribunal had yesterday held that all vehicles which were more than 15 years old would not be permitted to ply on the city roads.

It further said that no person shall be permitted to burn plastic or any other material in the open.
"While this is a step forward in right direction, a periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the action plan is needed to ensure peak pollution levels during winter are brought down and the clean air target is met.
"That may require additional and more stringent measures. The ambit of the action plan should also be expanded to the entire national capital region (NCR) of Delhi for effective impact," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, CSE.

CSE said the NGT's direction on the 14-point action agenda also include ban on burning of plastic, community surveillance of violation of pollution laws, prohibition on parking on carriageway or tar road, implementation of cycle tracks amongst others.

A bench, headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, had also directed that wherever vehicles of this age are noticed, the concerned authorities shall take appropriate steps in accordance with law including seizure.
CSE said several measures in the action plan including ban on open burning, ban on 15-year-old commercial vehicles and bypassing of transit traffic are already part of the Delhi government's regulations.
"But these have not been enforced well. NGT's intervention can help to ensure effective compliance and enforcement of these measures and more," it said.