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National Green Tribunal bans diesel vehicles over 10 years old in South India state Kerala

India: National Green Tribunal (NGT) Circuit Bench here on Monday, 23rd May 2016, banned the use of diesel vehicles older than 10 years, in six major cities, including state capital Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kollam, Thrissur, Kannur and commercial capital Kochi, in Kerala.

The national green tribunal (NGT) also temporarily banned on registration of new diesel vehicles over 2,000cc and more, except public transport and local authority vehicles. “If any vehicle is found to be violating this direction, in these cities, it shall pay around USD74 as environmental compensations and this will be collected by traffic police or pollution control board”, said by NGT the Bench.

Both Kerala state police and pollution control board shall maintain separate account in this regard and directed that the funds shall be utilized for betterment of environment in these cities. Though the order mentions that the ban will be effective in the six largest cities of the Kerala State, the impact will be Pan-Kerala. It will also affect trucks transporting goods from other States, especially Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.

Private fleet operators, Associations of truck owners and tourist vehicle owners were all unhappy with the order and their leaders came out strongly against the same. Kerala State Transport Commissioner Tomin Thachankary”” said the media that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) might go in for an appeal against the national green tribunal (NGT) order in the Kerala High Court in next couple of days.

According to a recent report published by Techsci Research “India Tire Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2021, with more than 60 tire manufacturing plants spread across the country in 2015, India ranks among one of the largest tire markets in the world. Growing automobile sales coupled with expanding automobile fleet are the major factors boosting demand for tires in the country. Moreover, with favorable inflationary scenario, expanding middle class population and increasing national disposable income, tire sales across all the automobile segments are expected to grow in the coming years. Presence of major automotive OEMs such as Ford, Hyundai, Honda, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, TATA, BMW, etc. has been hugely contributing to the sales of tires in India. MRF, CEAT, Birla Tyres, TVS Srichakra, Apollo Tyres and JK Tyre are few of the major regional tire manufacturers, while the major international tire brands operating in the country includes Goodyear, Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, Yokohama, and Hankook.

As per TechSci Research, the decision is poised to impact the business of Tire manufacturers in India. Banned the use of diesel vehicles older than 10 years, in six major cities would impact India replacement tire market and temporarily banned on registration of new diesel vehicles over 2,000cc and more would further impact India OEM tire market

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