New Delhi: The Supreme Court today ordered that no petrol or diesel-run taxis will be allowed to ply in the National Capital Region from tomorrow as it refused to extend the deadline of April 30 for taxis to convert into CNG. The court also declined to stay the ban on the registration of diesel cars with engine capacity of 2000 cc and above in the NCR.
Taxi owners had pleaded before the court that there's no technology available in the market to convert a diesel car into one that uses CNG.
"We gave sufficient time for private taxis to convert to CNG and we are not inclined to extend the deadline," the apex court observed in its judgement.
The top court, however, allowed the Delhi Police to get its 190 diesel vehicles of 2000 cc and above registered on payment of 30 percent environmental compensation charge.
The court also allowed Delhi Jal Board to get its new diesel-run water tankers to be registered with transport authority. It exempted the DJB from paying Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) on the ground that around 250 water tankers would be supplying water to the citizens of the city.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the Delhi government, said that DJB has phased out 270 water tankers as they were 10 years old and 250 new tankers have to be registered with the transport authority. She sought modification of the earlier apex court order by which it had barred registration of all diesel-run vehicles of the engine capacity of 2000 cc and above in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Jaising further said that CNG-run water tankers are not available and hence the diesel ones needed to be registered.
Simultaneously, Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for Delhi Police, sought the nod of the apex court on the need to register the diesel-run vehicles of the force. She further said that around 190 vehicles are to be purchased by Delhi Police for purposes like transportation of undertrial prisoners, arms and ammunitions and they are also required for mobilising police force in emergency situations.
The court allowed the plea of police and said that its vehicles will be registered on payment of ECC.
