Order of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) in the matter of Lawyers’ Environmental Awareness Forum (LEAF) Vs Government of Kerala & Others dated 06/01/2020 regarding air pollution especially vehicular pollution in Kerala. There was no policy formulation on the issue of curbing the use of diesel vehicles which are more than ten years old in the state, the application stated.

The NGT, Southern Bench directed that a committee be formed comprising of (1) Central Pollution Control Board, (2) MoEF & CC Regional Office, Chennai, (3) Motor Vehicles Department, Kerala, (4) Kerala State Pollution Control Board, (5) IIT, Chennai and (6) NEERI, Chennai. The committee would consider the question of ambient air quality in the State of Kerala, especially in the cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Alapuzha, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Calicut, Kasarkode and Kannur and sources of pollution.

The committee would also be responsible for listing the long term and short term steps to be evolved for the purpose of reducing pollution index and improve ambient air quality in the state of Kerala. And frame necessary time line for banning old vehicles and switch over to alternate clean fuel vehicles, including CNG and electric vehicles. The committee has to submit three within three months.