The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to formalise in a judicial order a series of directions to impose “environment compensation charge” on all light and heavy duty commercial vehicles entering the national Capital.

“The decision is a big victory in the fight against air pollution in Delhi. The issue of severe and dangerous air pollution in Delhi has been acknowledged and recognised by the Supreme Court. We would like to thank the Supreme Court for the decision, and amicus curiae Harish Salve, who filed an application in the court, seeking immediate measures before winter sets in,” said CSE director-general Sunita Narain.

Ms. Narain also congratulated the Central and Delhi governments for agreeing with and supporting this decision.

Supreme Court advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who moved the apex court on behalf of his children seeking immediate action against all sources of pollution like bursting of firecrackers during the festive season, crop burning, vehicles etc., is also hopeful.

“We welcome the decision. We are looking forward to see what will happen on Monday,” said Mr. Sankaranarayanan.

S. P. Singh of the Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training said “polluter pays” should be the standard policy for all cities. He said besides the pollution charge, “annual fitness for commercial vehicles should be made more stringent, while the compulsory fitness for cars/SUVs should be introduced every three years.”

However, SAARC Centre For Transport Studies (SAARC-CTS) Director Chittranjan Dass spoke of the bias against goods carriage which, he said are looked upon as “necessary evils” and asked if vehicles holding mandatory certificate of fitness and certificate of pollution under control still being charged a pollution compensatory fee / fine could be fair and equitable?

He also said that “despite a vehicle being certified by appropriate authorities as being road-worthy and non-polluting, the same is considered to be polluting, then for all good reasons, the pollution compensatory fine must be recoverable from those who issued the certificate of fitness and certificate of pollution under control and not from the vulnerable and ill-reputed owners of goods carriages. Instead the vehicle owners must be compensated for undeserving harassment.”