Express News Service By

First it was Delhi. Then Kerala. The ban on diesel vehicles could now extend to 15 more cities, since the NGT directed eight states to submit their view along with pollution data today. Their chief secretaries could face arrest if they fail to submit the info

What is PM2.5?

One of the key pollutants found in diesel emissions is Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). These fine pollutants get deposited deep in the lungs causing diseases like lung cancer, heart disorders and chronic asthma. Here is a look at the levels of PM2.5 across the country over the last 24 hours

‘Get your facts right’

Reprimanding the CPCB for submitting a half-baked report, the NGT called it a joke of the first category. CPCB in its report had mentioned that Mumbai has a population of 11 lakh. The city currently has a population of 2 crore people

CPCB faces heat

Referring to the CPCB report saying there are 245 cars per km in Delhi, the NGT bench said, “There are thousands of vehicles per km in Delhi. You have made a joke of our orders. You can see cars from 1960s still on the road.”

Diesel car market size

The diesel car market could perish if NGT succeeds in its drive against dirty fuel. Here is the market size

21.4% - Size of India’s diesel car market in 2008-09, according to Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers

28.42% - Share of diesel cars as compared to petrol ones in 2011-12

40%+ - Market share in 2012-13, indicating slump in petrol car sale

Month stats:

162,566 passenger cars sold in April last alone across India

65,025 of them would have been diesel, if one were to go by the 40% market share yardstick 2015-16 27 lakh passenger cars were sold, of which roughly over 11 lakh comprise diesel ones

70% of total diesel vehicles sold consumed by the transport sector, according to a Nielsen study in 2013-14

The break-up 28.48% is the share of diesel consumption by cars, utility vehicles and 3-wheelers