NEW DELHI, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- India's Supreme Court Friday lifted its ban on the sale of large diesel cars on the roads of New Delhi.
However, the top court's order has come with a rider -- a green fine will have to be paid by car manufacturers or dealers at the time of sale to compensate for polluting the capital's air.
The court had in December last year ordered a temporary ban on sale of new diesel luxury cars and sports utility vehicles with engine capacity of over 2000cc to curb New Delhi's air pollution levels.
But in its latest order, the court said it would levy an additional tax (1 percent of retail price) on the sale of large diesel cars.
Last month, the country's top green court had ordered authorities to stop all diesel vehicles of at least 10 years old from being driven in the capital.
Car sales are soaring in India, with 1,400 new vehicles taking to Delhi's streets everyday, but
the city is experiencing record levels of air pollution mainly due to diesel emissions.
India has 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities, according to the World Health Organization. And air pollution causes more than 600,000 premature deaths in the country each year.
