In a fresh order issued on October 30, Secretary (Environment) Rakesh Mohan says: ``The Govt of NCT of Delhi, after taking note of the orders passed by the Supreme Court regarding phasing out of vehicles which are more than 15 years old, has acknowledged that the earlier instructions of the Govt of NCT of Delhi and in particular the circular of the Department of Environment dated August 11, 1997, has become redundant''.

By withdrawing last year's circular -- 25 days before the Assembly elections -- there is no bar now on the purchase or running such diesel-run taxis. Among the restrictions which were imposed via the circular issued on August 11, 1997:
No vehicles over eight years old and auctioned by the Defence Services or the Government shall be registered in Delhi after March 31, 1998.

Only vehicles running on unleaded fuel or alternate fuel sources like unleaded petrol, CNG, electricity etc. (and not diesel) will be registered as taxis from April 1, 1998.

No three-wheeler (petrol or diesel) will be registered as goods carriage from April 1, 1998.

A senior official, requesting anonymity, says: ``All these vehicles can now return to the roads, because the Supreme Court has not elaborated on this aspect. The court has only said that all pre-1990 autos and taxis should be replaced with vehicles that run on clean fuels by March 31, 2000''.

This, the official points out, allows registration of new-diesel taxis, which can run for the next two years. And two years later, the owners of these vehicles are also entitled to loans from the government. The Supreme Court order stipulates that the government must grant ``financial incentives for replacement of all post-1990 taxis and autos with new vehicles on clean fuels by March 31, 2001.'' Says another official: ``There was no need to withdraw last year's circular at this point of time. We could have pushed for CNG-run automobiles and CNG-filling stations right away. But now we have to wait for two years to make it compulsory''.

The department of Environment had issued the circular on August 11 last year following the then L-G's instructions under Section 20 of the Air (Prevention and Pollution) Control Act and a notification from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Environment Secretary Rakesh Mohan says: ``We have not violated the Supreme Court order by withdrawing the circular. I don't remember the details of the circular and the Supreme Court order as I gave a perfunctory glance through them.''

He did not specify whether the Delhi Pollution Control Committee had been consulted this time around, before it was decided to withdraw the earlier order.