NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's temporary ban on registration of large diesel passenger vehicles in National Capital Region has sparked similar action elsewhere, with the National Green Tribunal ordering a halt to registering of new diesel vehicles with an engine capacity of over 2000 cc in Kerala .

The tribunal also banned light and heavy diesel vehicles that are more than 10 years old from plying in six major cities in the state, including the capital Thiruvananthapuram and the commercial capital Kochi, to curb pollution.

The bench, comprising NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar and expert member Bikram Singh Sajwan, directed the state government on Monday not to register any diesel vehicle in the capacity of 2000 cc and more, except public transport and local authority vehicles.

"All the diesel vehicles, whether light or heavy, which are more than 10 years old, shall not be permitted to ply on the roads in the major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur," the bench said in its order.

Vehicles violating this direction, starting 30 days from May 23, will be fined Rs 5,000 as environmental compensation.