New Delhi: Livelihood of more than 30,000 drivers and their families is in jeopardy with the Supreme Court banning their diesel-run taxis from plying in Delhi-NCR region, the union of drivers said.
The apex court had given a deadline of April 30 to convert diesel-run cabs into CNG taxis. Delhi Commercial Driver Union DCDU, which represents over 1,000 drivers, said they have approached the offices of Delhi Chief Minister, Prime Minister, President as well as the Supreme Court against the order.
"We have submitted that many of these vehicles are less than two years old and have been purchased on loans. While the vehicles aren't being allowed to ply, the EMIs will have to be. We are in a difficult situation here," DCDU President Kamaljeet Gill said.
The Union said converting diesel-run vehicles to CNG costs about Rs 2.5 lakh, which is not feasible. Cab aggregator Ola has also come out in support of the drivers.
It had approached the Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) stating that while it supports the SC judgement, there should be a roadmap for phasing out the diesel cabs.
It suggested that state tax for all commercial cabs should be relaxed to enable easy selling of DL number commercial cabs in other states.
The Centre has also submitted that the ban will impact the BPO industry, which uses diesel-run taxis to ferry employees and earns the country billions of dollars every year.
Delhi Government, on May 3, moved the SC seeking time to phase out diesel taxis citing law and order problem and inconvenience being caused to the people. The apex court will hear the matter next on May 9.
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