The appeal came as the National Green Tribunal hears a move to extend restrictions to curb pollution.
Highlights
- Green court gives more time to states to provide details on pollution
- There were concerns that NGT would extend diesel vehicle restrictions
- Centre says move would adversely effect growth of auto industry
Owners of diesel cars can breathe a sigh of relief as the National Green Tribunal today gave states more time to file detailed reports on levels of pollution in their territories.
The Green court, which is hearing a case against air pollution, had read the riot act yesterday to 11 states, asking them to present details of pollution levels by today or face having arrest warrants against their top officers.
Today, though most states came prepared, they told the tribunal that they would need more time for additional details, including sources of pollution.
The centre, which had moved a petition before the Green court today, also asked it to consider more reports and seek response from states before passing any order.
Last month, the NGT had extended a ban on registration of diesel vehicles applicable in Delhi to other cities. The ban in Delhi involved vehicles more than 10 years old and having an engine capacity of more than 2000 cc.
This had prompted concerns among auto makers and the Centre that the NGT could do the same in other polluted cities, prompting the intervention.
"There is nothing to suggest that diesel causes more pollution than some of the other fuels in vehicles... today's diesel vehicles are more efficient than older ones," said Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand, who put forth the Centre's views.
The tribunal has asked all states to submit details of their two most polluted cities and the number and kind of vehicles registered there. The details of population density of these cities and details on whether they had any policy to scrap old vehicles will also have to be given.
The Central Pollution Control Board or CPCB has released a ranking of some of India's most polluted cities. While Allahabad topped the list, two other cities in Uttar Pradesh -- Kanpur and Varanasi -- came second and third. Other cities with poor air quality include Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patna, Nagpur, Chennai, Amritsar, Pune and Hyderabad.
The tribunal will hear the case again on July 11.