NGT slams MoEF over delay in guidelines for emission from railway engines

National Green Tribunal has slammed environment ministry for delay of over three years in finalising guidelines enumerating locomotive standards for Railways. A bench heed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel said that despite its 2017 direction matter is still pending and has t been finalised by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

“It is thus seen that even though more than three years have passed, standards have still t been finalised without any valid justification. Such unexplained delay and apathy can hardly be conducive to Rule of Law,” bench said.

green panel said delay versely affects environment and public health. 

“Thus, action needs to be taken expeditiously with all sensitiveness to impact of delay on environment and public health,” bench said.

NGT directed MoEF, Central Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Railways to take prompt action in finalising standards "positively" within three months and furnish a compliance report. Secretary, MoEF, may minate a Joint Secretary for purpose so that accountability can be fixed to avoid any furr delay, it said. matter is listed for next hearing on February 5.

tribunal in 2017 h directed that guidelines containing locomotive standards be put up on CPCB website and expeditious efforts are to be me by all stakeholders to approve final parameters for locomotive engines. CPCB's interim report - Exhaust Emission Benchmarks for Diesel Locomotives on Indian Railways aims to fix standards and protocols for sector to achieve targets submitted by India under Paris climate change agreement. directions came while hearing a petition filed by Dwarka resident S K Goyal about harmful emissions from diesel locomotives.