Ban on petrol, diesel cars: NGT refuses to budge

New Delhi, Sep 14: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) today refused to lift the ban on 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles, here and in the National Capital Region. While dismissing the Centre's plea, which sought a modification of its order, the Tribunal said one diesel vehicle causes pollution equal to 24 petrol vehicles and 40 CNG vehicles. Government lawyer Balendu Shekhar quoted an IIT Kanpur study, saying that vehicular emissions contribute only 20 per cent to the air pollution, out of which diesel vehicles contribute just 0.22 per cent. Even the Motor Vehicles Act gives permission to 15-year-old vehicles, not more, he added. On being asked whether the Government will move the Supreme Court, Mr Shekhar said the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has been regularly conducting pollution checks and studies, to ascertain the level of pollution in the national capital. Talking about the pollutants released by petrol or CNG vehicles, he said that petrol emits carbon dioxide, while CNG too causes pollution, as it is high on nitrogen oxides. UNI