Rethink your decision of zipping around in a high end SUV, or your 2000 cc above car, the Supreme Court has barred their registrations in Delhi, to curb the rising pollution. This tough stand came as a surprise for plenty and the common man smiled at this attempt to control pollution. Till March 31st 2016, the registration of diesel vehicles that are above 2000 cc will be not able to get registration in the capital and the NCR region.
The pleas of the Centre and the auto dealers fell on deaf ears and their justification that the essential commodities will be affected were paid no heed by the bench. The vehicle ban was announced and the decision was explained purely, as a bid to keep a check on the pollution level. The bench also announced that vehicles that had registrations before 2005 will not be permitted entry into the city. Uber and Ola and other cabs were asked to convert to CNG if they had to stay in business. March 31st is the last date set for the cabs conversion.
Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, who passed a detailed order with other bench colleagues stated “It is noteworthy that diesel vehicles of 2000 cc and above and SUVs are generally used by more affluent sections of our society and because of the higher engine capacity are more prone to cause higher levels of pollution.”
The court also announced, “A ban on registration of such vehicles will not, therefore, affect the common man or the average citizen in the city of Delhi. We accordingly, direct that registration of SUVs and private cars of the capacity of 2000 CC and above using diesel as fuel shall stand banned in the NCR up to 31st March, 2016.”
It was specified “No Vehicle which is not bound for Delhi will be allowed to enter from NH-8 which connects Jaipur to Delhi and NH-1 that connects the states of Punjab, Haryana and other northern states to Delhi… the largest number of vehicles that are entering Delhi are from these two entry points.” A compensation charge for damaging the environment will be set for the vehicles entering Delhi and burning of waste will not be taken lightly.
