New Delhi, April 5
Taking a tough stand on the Delhi Government’s “ineffective” plan to control vehicular pollution, the Supreme Court today imposed heavy fines on diesel bus operators for non-conversion of their vehicles into the CNG mode.
Rejecting the Centre’s plea for extension of the January 31 deadline to run diesel buses in the Capital, a three-judge Bench, headed by Mr Justice B.N. Kirpal, slapped a fine of Rs 500 per bus per day on diesel bus operators from February 1 till today and Rs 1,000 from tomorrow.
It ordered the Union Government to pay a litigation cost of Rs 20,000 for failing to take effective action on the CNG issue.
The court earlier had fixed January 31 for phasing out all diesel buses from Delhi and convert them into the CNG mode in view of the high vehicular pollution level in the city.
Directing the Delhi Government to phase out 800 diesel buses every month, the court said “till all diesel buses are replaced, the owners who continue to ply such buses shall pay as per today’s directions”.
Stating that “no effective” action plan has been devised by the Centre to address the problem of vehicular pollution in big cities, as recommended by the Mashelkar Committee, the court directed the Centre and the Delhi Government to draw a joint financing scheme for bus operators.
PTI, UNI
