New Delhi :The ban on registration of diesel vehicles in Delhi will be effective if the neighbouring states too impose a similar ban, the Delhi government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The Delhi government submitted to the apex court an action plan on steps being taken to improve air quality. It maintained that the issue of diesel vehicles could be successfully tackled if the registration of all diesel vehicles was banned by all neighbouring states as well.
Based on the experience of the odd-even vehicles plan to be implemented from January 1 to January 15 in the national capital, a further decision in this regard would be taken, a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office said.
“To allow either odd or even number vehicles on alternate days from January 2016, and closing down of coal-based Rajghat and Badarpur power stations are main points of the action plan,” it said.
The Delhi government will also make an appeal to the National Green Tribunal to close down Dadri Power Plant, which is a major source of pollution for Delhi.
“The possibility of checking the pollution level of each truck entering Delhi at night and imposing heavy fines on those that do not meet pollution standards will be explored…,” it said.
The plan was finalised in a meeting on Sunday which was attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Public Works Department Minister Satyender Jain, besides others, said the statement.
Jain is the nodal minister to implement the government’s action plan on air pollution reduction.
The Delhi government said that vacuum cleaning of Delhi roads will be done from April 2016 at regular intervals.
The environment department will move an urgent application before the NGT asking it to issue orders enabling the department to impose stringent fines on polluting vehicles.
It also said the concept of genuine car pooling, devoid of any commercial interest, will be promoted.