SC allows Diesel cabs to play in Delhi.
Presently on Tuesday the Supreme Court will take up the issue of allowing diesel cabs to ply in Delhi and the Diesel powered taxis were earlier banned by the apex court on 30 April and the court has directed that these cabs would not run in Delhi from 1 May.
The Lawyer Harish Salve amicus curiae (friend of court) in the air pollution cases has informed the court that the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had a draft solution for the diesel cabs issue, which the court could hear and the Delhi government has also told the court that it has agreed with EPCA’s suggestion on phasing out diesel cabs.
Sources have stated that the ban on diesel cabs was first introduced on 16 December by the apex court in a bid to reduce air pollution, where the cabs were asked to migrate to compressed natural gas (CNG) by 31 March, which was later extended till April.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (Siam) has told the court that diesel was 25% more fuel efficient but the court has said it could modify its order banning the registration of luxury vehicles but it could impose a small environment cess and this was to make the buyer recognize that he or she was buying the more polluting car.