Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the ban on diesel cars and SUVs with engines above 2,000cc in Delhi-NCR by courts “is not the right way.”

Calling it “unfortunate,” he said the government is already taking measures to curb pollution and the ban has resulted in vehicles with latest technologies not being allowed while old polluting vehicles continue plying on the roads.

New plant

Javadekar was speaking at the inauguration of a new ₹100-crore plant of Force Motors at Chakan near here, from which the company will supply engines and axles to Mercedes-Benz India.

“I am very sure that courts will also appreciate that there has to be a certainty of policy and execution. Policy and execution are the job of the executive, legality of any decision is the job of the judiciary,” Javadekar said.

While commenting on the ban imposed on registration of big diesel cars and SUVs in Delhi-NCR since December last year, the minister did not refer to the Supreme Court by name but just said courts and the NGT. He was apparently referring to the Supreme Court, which has extended the ban till the next hearing, which is expected in July.

Stringent norms

Air pollution has not increased only in last two years. It has aggravated over the last ten years, he said.

“The judiciary should appreciate that the government has taken steps like migration to Euro VI to fight pollution. At the Environment Ministry, we have made emission norms more stringent practically for all industries and that’s the right direction in controlling pollution. So we are taking the right decisions and making all efforts,” he added.

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