CSE hails SC's recognition of 'polluting' trucks entering Delhi

NEW DELHI: Terming it as a "major victory", a green body today applauded the Supreme Court for recognizing the problem of severe pollution caused by commercial vehicles criss-crossing Delhi.

"This is a major victory for the fight against deadly air pollution in the city. The issue of severe and dangerous air pollution in Delhi has been acknowledged and recognized by the Supreme Court.

"We would like to thank the apex court for the decision, and also amicus curiae Harish Salve who filed an application in the court, seeking immediate measures against air pollution before winter sets in," said Centre for Science and Environment ( CSE) Director General Sunita Narain.

The Supreme Court had yesterday decided to peruse the National Green Tribunal ( NGT) order directing the payment of environmental compensation charge by commercial vehicles entering Delhi, before proceeding with the hearing of a plea by senior advocate Harish Salve, seeking levy of similar charges on polluting vehicles.

Narain also congratulated the Central and Delhi governments for agreeing and supporting the decision.

Meanwhile, the green body conducted a study and monitored nine entry points into Delhi and found the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) estimation of the trucks entering the capital city was 70 per cent less than the actual figure.

The difference in MCD estimation and CSE study was between 50 and 96 per cent at different points. We also investigated the levies on other routes and found that Delhi's taxes were cheaper and therefore more lucrative for trucks using Delhi as a transit corridor, the organisation said.

The study also recommended a 'pollution levy' on trucks and introduction of Radio Frequency Identification ( RFID) for them which will enable electronic payment as well as tracking them electronically as they pass through tollbooths.