New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday announced a slew of measures to tackle the growing menace of air pollution in Delhi.
Here are 10 developments in the case:
1. The Supreme Court has banned registration of diesel-run SUVs and cars having engine capacity beyond 2000 cc with immediate effect till March 31, 2016. The interim ban on registration of diesel-run luxury cars will also apply to National Capital Region.
2. All commercial vehicles, including trucks, which are not Delhi-bound, will not be allowed to enter the national capital through entry points NH-8 and NH-1. Delhi Police will come up with alternate routes for such commercial vehicles.
3. All commercial vehicles, including trucks, registered before 2005 will not be allowed to enter the capital even if bound for Delhi.
4. The green cess currently being levied on commercial vehicles entering Delhi has been raised by 100 percent. The environment compensation charge (ECC), currently levied at Rs 700 on light duty vehicles and Rs 1,300 on three-axle vehicles, will now go up to Rs 1400 and Rs 2,600, respectively.
5. All taxis in Delhi will have to be converted to CNG by March 31 next year.
6. Authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce the ban on burning of municipal waste in the capital.
7. The SC also ordered that NGT guidelines to be followed at construction sites be strictly enforced.
8. The Supreme Court had yesterday said that the rich can't be allowed to keep on driving diesel-driven SUVs that pollute the environment.
9. The court had also slammed car manufacturers which had knocked at its doors against the National Green Tribunal order banning registration of diesel cars in the capital. "People's life is at stake and you are interested in selling cars," Chief Justice TS Thakur was quoted as saying by NDTV.
10. The Supreme Court had yesterday indicated support to the odd-even formula proposed by the Delhi government to tackle growing air pollution in the national capital, which is now being described as 'a gas chamber'. “We have not stopped you from implementing odd-even formula. If you believe this is the way forward, then go ahead and implement,” the court told the Delhi government.
