Centre to SC: Need 5 years to phase diesel out, BPOs hit hard

The apex court had on May 3 given two days time to Delhi government to file a detailed plan on phasing out diesel taxis from the city after it had moved the court seeking the same.

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Heavy traffic jam during protest of diesel taxi drivers and owners who jammed the Delhi- Gurgaon expressway at border near Rajokri flyover in protest the ban of diesel taxi in National Capital. (Source: PTI)

The central government moved the Supreme Court Thursday seeking a relaxation on the ban on diesel-run taxis in Delhi-NCR, and argued that the crackdown will impact the BPO industry, which uses diesel taxis to ferry employees and earns the country billions of dollars every year.

Pleading for a gradual phase-out of taxis over a period of five years, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur that if call centres decided to move out due to the Delhi-NCR ban, it would cost the economy $1.2 billion (approximately Rs 7,975.25 crore).

Also read | SC panel submits roadmap, suggests ‘relaxing’ ban on diesel cabs in NCR

Kumar said that the Central government will file an application on the matter soon as it concerned the safety of women employees, too. “Due to the inconvenience caused to BPO employees, the companies may choose to move out of the country which will affect the economy,” Kumar said.

Watch Video Need 5 Years To Phase Out Diesel, BPOs Hit Hard: Centre To SC

At this, the bench, also comprising Justice R Banumathi, asked why BPO companies could not hire CNG-run buses to transport employees. Kumar replied that buses cannot enter small lanes and by-lanes to drop women employees at their doorstep at night.

Meanwhile, the counsel for Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) informed the court that it was discussing the issue with the Delhi government, which has already requested the bench to relax the ban.

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Also read | Ban on diesel cabs: Companies in Gurgaon try to cope, Nasscom flags concern

The bench has now posted the matter for May 9 to examine the plea for modification of its order whereby all diesel-run taxis had been ordered to go off the roads after April 30.

In its plea, the Delhi government had on Tuesday said that in the wake of Supreme Court’s order, around 30,000 diesel taxis have stopped plying in the national capital which is causing inconvenience to the common people and creating a law-and-order situation. The bench had then said whenever such decisions are taken, inconvenience is bound to be caused to people. It asked the Delhi government to submit a roadmap on the gradual phase-out of diesel-run taxis.

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