HC moved against NGT’s ban

The Hindu , Thursday, May 26, 2016
Correspondent :
The tribunal has banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years in six cities

A public interest writ petition was filed on Wednesday in the Kerala High Court, challenging the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Kochi Special Circuit Bench, banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years in six cities of the State and directing the State government not to register new diesel vehicles of 2000-cc and above.

In his petition, M.L. George, High Court lawyer, pointed out that the tribunal had passed the order without consulting stakeholders. “In fact, the order was issued in haste. Around 98,000 light vehicles, 42,000 heavy vehicles, and 46,000 medium vehicles will be off the road in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur once the order was implemented,” the petitioner said.

He added that more than 75 per cent private buses that were operated in Kochi were more than 10 years old. Therefore, the ban order will cause immense hardship to the public, besides affecting the movement of goods in these cities. Moreover, no school buses could be operated, as most of them were more than 10 years old.

Call for PCB report

Mr. George said the tribunal should have given sufficient time to the government and other stakeholders to explore alternative ways to tide over the serious situation arising out of the implementation of the order. “The tribunal should also have sought a report from the State Pollution Control Board or another competent agency on pollution caused by diesel vehicles. There is no justification for comparing the cities in the State with Delhi,” he contended.

He also pointed out that under the Motor Vehicles Act, vehicles are registered for 15 years. Therefore, the tribunal cannot ban vehicles before the expiry of the validity period of the registration. “If vehicles older than 10 years are banned, the Act will have to be amended. Besides, it is the Ministry of Environment and Forests that should find a solution to air pollution,” the petitioner said.

 
SOURCE : http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/hc-moved-against-ngts-ban/article8647903.ece
 


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