NEW DELHI: In a landmark ruling aimed at curbing the alarming pollution level in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Wednesday banned the registration of all diesel SUVs and luxury cars with engine capacity of 2000 cc or more in the entire National Capital Region till March 31 next year.
The top court also ruled that all trucks not bound for Delhi will not be allowed to enter the capital through National Highways 1 and 8. Those carrying goods for Delhi will have to shell out a steep environment compensation charge (ECC) — Rs 2,600 for big trucks and Rs 1,400 for light commercial vehicles, which is double the ECC earlier specified by the court.
The Supreme Court has also asked all the private cabs operating in the city to convert to Compressed Natural Gas or CNG by March 1 next year. In a relief to the ordinary commuters, the court exempted small diesel cars from the ambit of its order.
The ruling came two weeks before the Delhi government's radical 15-day odd-even experiment to regulate the number of cars on city roads begins on January 1.
In the other measures, the court asked the Centre to provide proper masks to all traffic policemen in the city, saying they were the worst affected by its pollution.
With thanks : TOI : LINK : For detailed news report.
