NEW DELHI: In a daring step, the Delhi Govt on Friday requested the Supreme Courtroom to rethink its 2018 blanket ban on plying of over 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol automobiles on the roads of whole Nationwide Capital Area saying stricter BS-VI norm compliant automobiles emit far much less pollution in comparison with BS-IV automobiles.It requested the SC to direct the Union govt or Air High quality Administration to “carry out a suitable broad-based, scientific study on the need for continuance of a complete ban on playing of 15 or more years old petrol and 10 or more years old diesel vehicles of all categories in NCR, imposed by the SC through its order on Oct 10, 2018”.The Delhi govt mentioned the blanket ban, not backed by any scientific examine, doesn’t differentiate between poorly maintained, The directive to off-road automobiles purely on the premise of age disproportionately impacts the middle-class inhabitants whose automobiles are much less used, well-maintained, and air pollution norm compliant, the govt. mentioned. “Studies indicate that these vehicles often have significantly lower annual mileage and contribute negligibly to overall emissions,” it mentioned.It mentioned the numerous enchancment in Air pollution Beneath Management Expertise, elevated protection of PUC testing, stricter monitoring of emission requirements, transition to BS-VS engines and different measures have suitably addressed the considerations that had impelled the SC to cross the order seven years in the past.Street-worthiness is a technical and scientific concern that have to be linked to precise emissions of a car, which is required to be banned, and never a blanket ban primarily based on the age of the automobiles, it mentioned, echoing the favored sentiments of individuals dwelling within the nationwide capital area and Delhi.Delhi govt, by an software settled by further solicitor common Aishwarya Bhati, mentioned, “There is a need for a graded, balanced and technology riven regime to handle vehicular pollution issue and instead of blanket ban, a scientific, data-driven framework should be developed taking into account all parameters to ascertain individual emission levels of vehicles.”Repeatedly stressing that the 2018 blanket ban order wants reconsideration, the BJP govt mentioned vehicular air pollution constitutes solely one of many a number of sources of air-pollution, together with stubble burning, biomass burning, highway and development mud, industrial emissions coupled with climate and meteorological elements and the depth of air pollution varies from season to season.Delhi govt mentioned its transport division has strictly carried out PUC has resulted in issuance of 1,63,103 challans within the first seven months of this yr, in comparison with 29,589 challans issued in 2021, 43,494 in 2022, 36,176 in 2023, and 68,077 in 2024. It mentioned with the augmentation of CNG and electrical buses and enchancment in highway infrastructure, the air pollution brought on by automobiles has lowered.It mentioned the nice AQI days have elevated from 159 in 2018 to 209 in 2024 and good AQI days this yr until July was 106. The sturdy implementation of Graded Response Plan (GRAP) has contributed to decreasing air pollution within the nationwide capital, it mentioned.
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