CONTROLLING POLLUTION The green tribunal asked the biodiesel association to show how biofuel can help reduce pollution
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Saturday asked a biodiesel association to produce proof that biodiesel, when blended with diesel, can reduce pollution.
The NGT was hearing an application filed by the Biodiesel Association of India, asking for the implementation of a 2009 policy.
“Biodiesel, when blended with diesel, can reduce pollution. The union government formed guidelines for this in 2009, but nothing moved on the ground. We are seeking implementation of this policy,” the lawyer representing the association said.
The bench, under NGT chairman Justice Swatanter Kumar, however, said there was no proof to substantiate the claim.
“You are claiming that blending biodiesel with high-speed diesel will reduce emission. It is a proposition yet to be tested. Show us what the emissions are, after blending.”
“Demonstrate a pollution content reduction… We want to know the proportion of this reduction. File an additional affidavit on this,” Kumar said.
The bench was hearing this application as part of a petition filed by Vardhaman Kaushik against severe air pollution in Delhi. Earlier, the NGT had asked authorities to cancel the registration of diesel-powered vehicles that are more than 10 years old, in a move aimed at cleaning up the capital’s toxic air.
After a July 18 order on deregistering 10-year-old vehicles, the NGT on July 20 told the Delhi government to first focus on vehicles order than 15 years.
Diesel vehicles that are more than 15 years old are already banned in the national capital region. TheSupremeCourthas also barred the registration of new diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2000CC and above.
It has also ordered that all diesel taxis be converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to reduce pollution.