Green panel asks oil companies to stop plying BS-I, BS-II vehicles in NCR

The Supreme Court had on Wednesday banned sale and registration of vehicles, which are not BS-IV compliant, in India from April 1 when the new emission norms come into force.

The National Green Tribunal on Thursday directed public sector oil companies to stop plying Bharat Stage-I and Bharat Stage-II vehicles for transporting petrol or petroleum products in the national capital.

The NGT has asked state oil companies to stop plying BS-I and BS-II oil tankers from transporting petroleum or petroleum products in NCR.(HT File)

A bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar ordered Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum to immediately ban such vehicles.

The green panel also directed the joint commissioner of police to ensure the compliance of the order.

The green panel had in December last year issued notices to the oil companies and asked them to inform whether they use any diesel vehicle more than a decade old for transporting petrol or diesel to fuel stations.

The direction came while hearing a batch of petitions filed by various contractors seeking registration of new BS-IV compliant diesel vehicles purchased for transport of petrol from company depots to identified petrol pumps in Delhi-NCR.

In a blow to automobile firms, the Supreme Court had on Wednesday banned sale and registration of vehicles, which are not BS-IV compliant, in India from April 1 when the new emission norms come into force.