No Diesel Vehicles Above 2000cc to be Registered for 3 Months: SC

SC bans registration of diesel vehicles above 2000 cc for 3 months. It gave a string of directions to curb pollution.

SC also banned commercial vehicles, which are not Delhi bound, to enter the city through entry points NH-8 & NH-1. (Photo: Reuters)

The Supreme Court today banned registration of diesel-run SUVs and cars having engine capacity beyond 2000 cc in Delhi and National Capital Region till March 31, next year as it unveiled a slew of measures to curb the alarming rise in pollution levels in the city.

Other measures ordered by the apex court include:

• Hiked pollution tax on commercial vehicles entering Delhi to Rs 1,400-2,600.
  
• Raised the green cess being levied on commercial vehicles entering Delhi by 100 percent.
  
• Banned commercial vehicles, which are not Delhi bound, from entering the city through NH-8 and NH-1.
  
• Ordered all taxis to convert to CNG by March 31; commercial vehicles registered before 2005 won’t be allowed to enter Delhi.
  

The court had on October 12 ordered that light duty vehicles would have to pay Rs 700 and three-axle vehicles Rs 1,300 to enter Delhi in addition to the toll tax from November 1 as ‘Environment Compensation Charge’ (ECC) in a bid to check high pollution levels in the city.