New Delhi:
In a breather to owners of diesel vehicles, the National Green Tribunal today stayed for two weeks its order to impound such vehicles, heavy or light, plying in the capital for more than 10 years.
"In the larger public interest and to ensure public utility services and keeping in mind the submissions made by the counsel particularly for NCT, Delhi who shall mainly get adversely affected due to impounding of diesel vehicle of more than 10 years old and to ensure that the common citizen of Delhi does not suffer in day to day life...
"During the period of two weeks that we have provided to all the concerned authorities there shall be impounding of vehicles on account of age. In furtherance to our earlier orders we make it clear that we are varying our directions only to this limited extent...," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
The green panel directed the Delhi government and other government departments to submit scientifically-supported views within two weeks on better implementation of its order.
The tribunal made it clear that diesel vehicles are prohibited because of high density of traffic and by sending them to other areas greater pollution is "likely to be shifted to the places of lesser density of vehicles and lesser pollution because of the expanse of air available and openness available there".
It also asked the Delhi government to provide public transport vehicles on priority basis at all the places which have high commercial activities, markets or industrial areas.
"Wherever parking area or multi-storied parking have been provided rationalisation of parking charges to encourage people to park in such parking areas and not on the main road," the green bench said.