So the rich and powerful win again. The Supreme Court today lifted its temporary ban on diesel vehicles with an engine capacity over 2000cc in Delhi. It added a "green cess" of 1%, a figure so low that it would be laughable if it weren't so sad. That's hardly a number that's going to be a problem for those who buy big diesel cars. Are they going to care about spending an extra Rs. 30,000 on a Rs. 30 lakh car? Doubt it. Compare this to Delhi's car registration which range from 4% (cars costing under Rs. 6 lakhs) to 12.5% (for cars over Rs. 10 lakhs) So this is nothing more than a token gesture by the Supreme Court. And that is what is so sad.
In December, when it banned large SUVs, the Supreme Court gave voice to the growing concerns of pollution in Delhi and recognized diesel as a fuel more polluting than petrol. By only banning those cars above 2000cc, it put people carriers and vehicles for the rich on notice. The impact was greater than what one could have expected. The sale of all diesel cars in Delhi plummeted as people thought that the ban could extend to smaller and cheaper cars.
But of course, it was too good to last. The automobile industry with battalions of highly paid lawyers descended on the Supreme Court asking for a review of the ban. They argued that diesel was not any more polluting than petrol, that such decisions were grievously injuring the industry and that such policy changes were unjustifiable. They were joined in this chorus by government of India through no less than Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi.
In December, when it banned large SUVs, the Supreme Court gave voice to the growing concerns of pollution in Delhi and recognized diesel as a fuel more polluting than petrol. By only banning those cars above 2000cc, it put people carriers and vehicles for the rich on notice. The impact was greater than what one could have expected. The sale of all diesel cars in Delhi plummeted as people thought that the ban could extend to smaller and cheaper cars.
But of course, it was too good to last. The automobile industry with battalions of highly paid lawyers descended on the Supreme Court asking for a review of the ban. They argued that diesel was not any more polluting than petrol, that such decisions were grievously injuring the industry and that such policy changes were unjustifiable. They were joined in this chorus by government of India through no less than Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi.
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