In a breather to the municipal corporations in the capital facing shortage of vehicles, the National Green Tribunal today directed the Delhi government to register new diesel vehicles, conforming to BS-IV norms, for garbage disposal and handling of municipal waste.
The green panel directed the municipal corporations to "condemn and dismantle" the vehicles which are over 10-years old and ordered that the new vehicles should be fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) system.
"In case of corporations...They are permitted to replace the existing diesel vehicles which are 10 years old by new vehicles for carrying of municipal solid waste and other waste...All the new vehicles bought by the corporations shall be compliant to BS-IV norms," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
It also made it clear that the municipal corporations would not use the new vehicles for any other purposes besides garbage disposal and carrying of waste.
The order came on the plea filed by advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for East Delhi Municipal Corporation, who had sought permission to buy 45 diesel-run vehicles for garbage management as registration of new diesel vehicles above 2000cc is banned in Delhi.
Citing "immediate necessity", the civic body had asked NGT to give it clearance for buying 15 front-end loaders, 15 tippers and 15 tractors with trolleys.
Besides EDMC, South Delhi Municipal Corporation had also sought directions to the Delhi government to register new diesel vehicles, conforming to BS-IV norms, which it plans to buy for garbage disposal.
The plea moved by SDMC contended that the green panel last year had banned registration of new diesel vehicles as well as re-registration after 10 years.
Later, the apex court also banned registration of diesel- run SUVs and cars having engine capacity beyond 2000 cc in Delhi and National Capital Region till March 31.
Due to this, the transport department was not registering the newly procured vehicles which conform to BS-IV norms and not re-registering the old vehicles, it had said.
