Apex court notice to Centre on diesel subsidy restriction

The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking implementation of updated emission norms, including Euro V and VI for diesel vehicles and restriction of fuel subsidy to a target class.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir sought response from the Finance and Petroleum and Natural Gas ministries and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the petition filed by economist Arvind Gupta.

The PIL came up for hearing on a day when the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways admitted in an affidavit before the court that there was no policy decision on fixing age limit of vehicles, even though the Motor Vehicles Act empowered the government to do so.

The petition filed by Gupta sought an updated National Ambient Air Quality Standard to prescribe emission norms in tune with Euro V and VI, besides necessary directives to fit existing vehicles with required technologies and a fresh National Auto Fuel Policy to implement Euro V.

“The respondents have been lax in the performance of their duties and therefore the Euro IV and Euro V emission norms on diesel and petrol vehicles have not been implemented till date.
The policies in place are hopelessly out of date and out of sync with the realities.

The failure of the respondents to implement the Environment Protection Act, 1986, The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the new standards of emission norms followed in the developed world has resulted in transforming Delhi and the National Capital Territory and other Indian cities into virtual gas chambers,” it contended.

The increasing use of subsidised diesel without strict emission norms in vehicles, malls, real estate and telecom companies has become a burden on the exchequer. It is causing a number diseases and ailments to the people, the petition claimed.

“The loss to the treasury on account of diesel subsidy is estimated to be approximately Rs 67,500 crore. Fifteen per cent of this subsidy goes to the diesel car sector, which works out to nearly Rs 15,000 crore.