Green tribunal allows vintage car rally
In a relief for vintage car connoisseurs, the National Green Tribunal on Friday agreed to make a one-time exception to its order banning all vehicles older than 15 years from plying on Delhi roads.
In a relief for vintage car connoisseurs, the National Green Tribunal on Friday agreed to make a one-time exception to its order banning all vehicles older than 15 years from plying on Delhi roads.
A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar has given its go-ahead for the sixth edition of 21 Gun Salute International Vintage car rally in the Capital on Saturday and Sunday.
The green panel, however, made it clear that this rally was being permitted as a one-time event and in future it will not allow such events without hearing them on merits.
The bench asked the rally organisers to file an undertaking stating that this is a charity event and they have made all requisite preparations.
“Prima facie, we are against running of such vehicles and you are totally barred by our order... However, we permit this rally as a one-time event on February 6 and 7 for three hours,” the bench said.
The order came on a plea filed by Madan Mohan, founder trustee of the 21 Gun Salute Heritage and Cultural Trust and organiser of 21 Gun Salute International Vintage Car Rally and Auto Show.
The petition had sought exemption from NGT’s November 26, 2014 order banning cars which were over 15 years old from Delhi roads, thus disqualifying vintage cars from participating in any rally.
During the hearing, advocate ADN Rao, appearing for the petitioner, said the rally was being organised from Red Fort to Greater Noida and all the preparations for it have been made.
Seeking permission for the rally, he told the tribunal that the money received from the rally would be used for social causes and for welfare of spastic children.
Waste to energy, thermal plants
The green body has directed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to submit within a week the inspection report on the waste-to-energy and thermal power plants in Delhi, in a bid to address the growing waste management problem.
A bench headed Kumar expressed concern over delay in operationalisation of these plants and directed the “high-powered team” constituted by it to submit the report expeditiously.