Ban sought on diesel

to clean up Delhi's air, the Environment Pollution Authority (epa) for the National Capital Region (ncr) has recommended the Supreme Court to impose a complete ban on new diesel-driven private passenger vehicles in the ncr . The epa' s report has also made several important recommendations -- all commercial vehicles plying in the ncr should be asked to use Compressed Natural Gas (cng ). However, in an earlier ruling the apex court allowed diesel taxis to ply on the city roads provided they complied with the euro ii norms.

The panel also called for a complete ban on the registration of new diesel-driven private passenger vehicles. "A preventive measure will be more cost-effective than abatement measures or environmental damage control that will be needed to be introduced later," says the epa. Moreover, the panel added that goods vehicles like lorries should also run on cng in the ncr. The panel has also called for stronger action against two-wheelers. The recommendations are based on research that has proved that diesel is more environmentally-damaging than petrol.