New Delhi: Reiterating that all its cars conform to emission norms in India, German auto major Volkswagen said Thursday it will comply with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order and deposit Rs 100 crore with the authority within the stipulated time frame.
Volkswagen’s response came after the NGT slammed it for not depositing Rs 100 crore in accordance with its November 16, 2018 order and directed the company to submit the amount within 24 hours.
“The Volkswagen Group reiterates that all cars from the group are compliant with the emission norms in India. The order of the honourable NGT is already under challenge before the honourable Supreme Court. However, the Volkswagen Group India will comply with the order of honourable NGT and deposit the money, as directed,” said a company spokesperson.
Earlier during the day, a bench headed by NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel took strong exception to the non-compliance of its order by the automobile giant and asked it to give an undertaking that it will submit the amount by 5 pm Friday.
The tribunal deferred the matter for hearing after it was informed that the Supreme Court is also seized of the issue.
The tribunal had said November 16, 2018 that the use of ‘cheat device’ by Volkswagen in diesel cars in India leads to environmental damage and had asked the company to deposit an interim amount of Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The tribunal was hearing pleas filed by a school teacher, Saloni Ailawadi, and a few others, seeking a ban on sale of Volkswagen vehicles for alleged violation of emission norms.
A ‘cheat’ or ‘defeat device’ is a software which the company was found using in its diesel engines to manipulate emission tests by changing performance of its cars globally.
The automobile giant had admitted to the use of ‘defeat device’ in 11 million diesel engine cars sold in the US, Europe and other global markets to manipulate emission test results.
PTI