KOCHI: The special circuit bench of the National Green Tribunal in Kochi has banned the plying of diesel vehicles which are 10 years old in major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.
The first order issued by the bench after its inauguration in Kochi on Monday has also banned the registration of diesel vehicles with the capacity of 2,000 CC and above except public transport and local authority vehicles.
The order, which will have far-reaching consequences for the public transport system in the state, was issued by the bench comprising NGT chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar and expert member B.S. Sajwan on a petition filed by Kochi-based Lawyers Environmental Awareness Forum (LEAF).
The order said; “The state of Kerala shall not register any diesel vehicle with the capacity of 2000 CC and above, except public transport and local authority vehicle. Further, we direct that all the diesel vehicles, whether light or heavy, which are more than ten years old, shall not be permitted to ply on the road in the major cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur,” The order further stated, “upon the expiry of 30 days from today, if any vehicle is found to be violating this direction, then it would be liable to pay Rs 5,000 per violation as environmental compensation. This would be collected by the traffic police and or the Pollution Control Board. The State Pollution Control Board shall maintain a separate account in this behalf. The fund so collected shall be spent only for betterment of environment in these cities, subject to orders of the tribunal,” it said.
The order, expected to improve the deteriorating air quality in the state, however, is likely to have serious impact on the public transport services in the state. The implementation of the order is likely to keep majority of the vehicles used by the government-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, private buses, vehicles of educational institutions, police department and private vehicles off the road.
