The ban on diesel-powered vehicles with above-2000cc engines is all set to continue in Delhi until further orders. The Supreme Court hearing the petition on the issue at the behest of vehicle makers made this observation today.

However, the apex court has decided to take a more lenient approach towards diesel cabs converting to CNG by May 1 in the Delhi-NCR. 

Both the matters came up for hearing on a petition filed by advocate Harish Salve on December 16, 2015 in a bid to curb air pollution in the Delhi-NCR. While the ban on diesel vehicles above 2000cc was earlier to last till 31 March 2016, it was later extended by the apex court and came up for hearing on May 9 on the petition by vehicle manufacturers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Mercedes-Benz India who were the most affected by the ban.

Breather for diesel cabs

On the other hand, the conversion of diesel vehicles to CNG was mandated by 31 March 2016 but on a petition for reconsideration it was rejected by the Supreme Court in its latest order of 30 April making it mandatory for diesel taxis to convert to CNG from May 1 if they wanted to have a free run in the Delhi-NCR.

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) representing vehicle manufacturers and engine makers in India had pointed out that according to a recent study conducted by IIT Kanpur all types of passenger cars as a whole contributed only 2 percent of the PM 2.5 pollution load in the NCT. Of this 2 percent, all diesel cars contributed only 1.5 percent of the PM 2.5 pollution load.

Further BS-IV diesel cars contributed only 0.5 percent of PM 2.5 emissions and since the automotive industry had made significant investments in the diesel technology in line with the investment policies of the government, placing bans on a legally compliant industry is tantamount to an infringement of the fundamental right to do business in the country.

Read more:

- MoRTH sets up new committee to frame policies for taxi operators

- Opinion: Should Delhi ban diesels?