HC asks state government to phase out old vehicles

Kolkata, Jul 18 (UNI) Kolkata High court today directed the West Bengal government to phase out buses and taxis which are more than fifteen years old on road.

A two-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Surender Singh Nijjar and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, asked the government not to renew the licences of such vehicles after March 31 next.

The state environment department , however, issued a circular notifying that private and government buses and taxis of more than fifteen years duration would not be allowed to renew their registration.

The Environment department has issued the circular in a bid to ease the growing auto-pollution in and around the city.

The court issued the ruling on a petition filed by environmental activist Subhas Dutta.

The court also ruled that the city auto-rickshaws would have to use LPG instead of diesel or other fuels. The court put the deadline for the autos to convert to the new system by March 31, 2009.

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