New Delhi July 23 (IANS) In major step to curb vehicular pollution the Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that sale and manufacture of BS-VI non-compliant vehicles in India should not be allowed from April 1 2020.
A bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta was informed by the Centre that sale and manufacture of BS (Bharat stage)-VI non-compliant vehicles from April 1 2020 would have an adverse effect since the investment of around Rs 28 000 crore has already been made for having a cleaner BS-VI fuel.
The government said if BS-VI fuel is used in BS-IV vehicles the environmental benefit of having a cleaner fuel would become marginal and after March 31 2020 the sale of non-compliant BS-VI vehicles should not be allowed.
The Centre further said it will prevent registration of BS-IV compliant automobiles built before April 1 2020 beyond June 30 2020.
The government s response came during the hearing of the petition which has raised the issue of air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

--IANS gt/vd