Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding growing air pollution in Delhi NCR, 16/12/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Jitendra Mahajan Vs GOVT. of N.C.T. of Delhi & Others dated 16/12/2024.
The application has been filed by the Chairman of the State Development Committee, Shahdara and a Member of Legislative Assembly in NCT of Delhi. He has filed the application based on his personal experience concerning the non-compliance of the norms by his old official vehicle, which was causing excessive air pollution. Counsel for the Applicant referring to the annexure A-2, which is a list of 107 vehicles of the Delhi Government, has pointed out that several diesel and petrol vehicles belonging to the Government of NCT of Delhi have completed their life of 10-15 years, but they are still plying on the road.
The counsel informed the court that this is only a list of 107 vehicles whereas the Government of NCT has around 3000 vehicles plying on the road. Therefore, there may be many more such vehicles that are plying even after completion of their life. Several such vehicles are plying on the road without obtaining the PUC and these vehicles do not even have insurance.
The counsel also referred to the GRAP order which stated that the Commissioner or Head of Delhi NCR is the agency responsible for implementing the GRAP order and referred to item 14 of the schedule on page 168 to show that the Commissioner or Head of the Department of Delhi and Commissioner or Head of the Traffic Police Department of Delhi are responsible for enforcing the Supreme Court and NGT order relating to overage diesel/ petrol vehicles. The counsel said that the authorities who are responsible for enforcing the GRAP order are themselves violating the order.
The NGT, December 16, 2024 directed notice be issued to the concerned authorities. The court would next hear the case on February 20, 2025.