The Supreme Court today upheld a temporary ban on the sale of large diesel vehicles in New Delhi. The apex court, however, agreed to hear the pleas filed by carmakers such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz and asked them to present documentary proof that show diesel vehicles aren’t more polluting than petrol vehicles.
The ban in place covers registration of diesel cars and SUVs with engine capacities of above 2,000cc in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) in order to reduce air pollution levels in both the regions.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has also asked the Delhi government to not deny a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to ten-year-old diesel vehicles and 16-year-old petrol vehicles for being sold outside the NCR. The Centre has also been instructed to replace all government vehicles running on diesel.
The apex court also restricted transit entry for heavy commercial vehicles into Delhi from four more points: NH 2, NH 10, NH 58, and State Highway 57. The Supreme Court had in its previous order, banned the transit entry of such vehicles into Delhi at two entry points; NH 1 and NH 8. The ban will be applicable to vehicles that are not Delhi-bound. In a previous order, the SC had hiked the pollution cess on such commercial vehicles to somewhere between Rs 1,400 and Rs 2,600.
According to reports, the presiding Supreme Court judge said that the court was considering expanding the ban to diesel cars with engine capacity of less than 2,000 cc, but would first seek industry input on the matter.
Tata Motors, whose vehicles affected by the ban include the Safari SUV and Sumo Gold, said that banning cars that meet emission levels will not help curb pollution.
“Tata Motors had filed a petition with the SC with regard to the recent ban on diesel cars in the Delhi-NCR region…while we share the concern for environment, we believe it is important to take a holistic approach, with a comprehensive look at pollution from all sources. Present data reveals that a small percentage of PM 2.5 pollution may be imputed to the automotive sector,” a company spokesperson told Autocar India.
“Moreover, within the auto industry specific initiatives, we believe the regulatory regime should focus on a practical roadmap for the overall emissions-control rather than any specific fuel or technology. Selectively banning clean BS IV (Euro 4 equivalent) diesel cars that already meet stringent local and international emission norms will not facilitate pollution control.”
German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has also been hard hit by the ban since it affects all its diesel models sold in India. It is hopeful that the Supreme Court will turn its decision in the next hearing.
"The Supreme Court today gave a patient hearing to our submission and while upholding the ban, and has agreed to hear from us with further documentary facts on the matter. We hope for a favourable verdict in the next hearing as Mercedes-Benz vehicles not only comply with the regulatory limits (BS IV), they do so with significant margin," a company spokesperson told Autocar India.
According to reports, the Supreme Court was also expected to rule on a separate green tax on all diesel cars in the city, but is yet to announce its decision on that levy.