(a) whether the Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority has made a plea to stop the use of diesel cars in Delhi;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Indian diesel vehicles are reportedly less fuel efficient than those in developed countries and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to ban all diesel cars in Delhi and convert them to CNG and if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a)& b) The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) for the National Capital Region (NCR) in its report no. 32 in the year 2007 to the Hon`ble Supreme Court in the matter of Writ Petition (C) 13029 of 1985: MC Mehta Vs Union of India and Others had recommended use of Diesel in personal transport vehicles in the city of Delhi, need to be stopped. Later, in the matter of Writ Petition (C) 13029/1985, a report dated 14.02.2014 of EPCA is filed in the Hon`ble Supreme Court wherein EPCA has suggested the introduction of stringent measures for Vehicular Policy including framing of various norms, imposition of heavy taxes on purchase of new vehicles, restriction on number of vehicles in National Territory of Delhi as well as regulation of traffic coming from the neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh & Rajasthan.
(c)& (d) Indian vehicles are designed for optimum performance of emissions and fuel efficiency in the Indian conditions. From the technology perspective, vehicles in India are at par with international technologies, as several of the vehicle models are exported and many of the international brands are also imported in India. However, because of various reasons, such as quality of fuel, traffic condition, road conditions and driving behaviour, fuel efficiency of the vehicles achieved in India may vary. Presently the Government does not have any plans to ban all diesel cars in Delhi and convert them into CNG. Government of India has taken a holistic approach and constituted an Expert Committee on Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025. This Expert Committee has submitted its detailed recommendation to address the issue of vehicular pollution through a long-term emission road map till 2025. It has been recommended that for four wheelers BS IV emission norms will be implemented from the year 2017 onwards across the country, while BS V and BS VI emission norms will be implemented from the years 2020-21 and 2024, respectively.