Delhi government issued notice on phasing of old vehicles

New Delhi, Nov 30 The Delhi High Court Friday issued notice to the Delhi government on a public suit seeking phasing out of commercial vehicles more than 15 years old from the capital's roads in compliance with the Supreme Court orders.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice M.K. Sarma fixed Dec 5 for hearing arguments after the petitioner submitted additional documents and government policy.

The petition filed by advocate Sugriv Dubey said the directorate of transport, flouting the Supreme Court directives of 1998, has issued a circular to allow 15-year-old commercial vehicles to ply on the roads as Radio Taxis provided they were fitted with gas (CNG) kits.

The Supreme Court had directed phasing out such commercial vehicles by December 2000. But due to inefficiency of the authorities many vehicles were still plying, said the petition.

"The engines are not efficient, the body and doors are making noise leading to noise pollution in the city," the petition said.

Despite the permissible limit of noise being at 0.45 decibel, the city noise level was 12 to 14 decibel. These vehicles were the main culprits of noise pollution in the city, said Dubey in his petition.

He pleaded that direction should be given to the government for issuance of licenses only to new vehicles. - IANS