From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 29: What is the solution to check increasing air pollution in Karnataka’s State capital of Bengaluru?

Banning registration of new vehicles in the city is not the answer, according to Karnataka government.

The State government on Wednesday told the Karnataka High Court that restricting registration of new vehicles would not prevent entry of vehicles to Bengaluru city as new vehicles can be purchased in other places and shifted to the city.

The State Government informed the High Court that it has no power in law to restrict registration of new vehicles.

However, the State Government said easing out old and polluting vehicle could be a suitable alternative to check pollution in the city.

This submission was made by State’s Additional Advocate General A S Ponnanna before the Division Bench headed by Karnataka High Court chief justice D H Vaghela on Wednesday.

Ponnanna told the court that the State had written to the Union government, which has power to amend Motor Vehicles Act, for amending law to restrict registration of new vehicles in cities having more than 40 lakh population.

These submissions were made before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy during hearing of a PIL petition suo motu initiated by the Court based on newspaper report on city’s noise and air pollution.

The Bench during the last hearing had sought State’s response on the direction made by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board for restricting registration of new vehicles.