SHILLONG: In line with the Supreme Court order banning sale and registration of vehicles with the BS-III emission norms from April 1, the State government has prohibited registration of all vehicles with the older emission norms purchased after March 31 this year.
The Commissioner of Transport in a statement said only vehicles with certified Bharat Stage IV emission norms will be allowed to register.
The Supreme Court on March 29 banned sale and registration of vehicles with the older BS-III emission norms from April 1 observing that health of the people is “far, far more important” than commercial interests of the manufacturers.
The court observed that automobile firms had declined to take sufficient steps despite being fully aware that they would be required to manufacture only BS-IV compliant vehicles from April 1, 2017.
The court also prohibited registration of vehicles, which do not meet Bharat Stage-IV emission standards, from April 1 except on a proof that such a vehicle was sold on or before March 31.
As per media reports, while green bodies lauded the ban calling it an acknowledgment of the public health crisis and a step in the right direction towards fighting air pollution, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers dubbed it as frustrating by saying that the existing law allows sale of BS-III compliant vehicles and that this fact was ignored by the court.
The auto emission norms are emission standards which are adopted to check the air pollutants released from any internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicles.
