Seeks Reply As To Why Govt Failed To Comply With Its Order Jaipur: Rajasthan High Court on Thursday sought explanation from the state government as to why diesel vehicles were allowed to operate in Ranthambore National Park (RNP) despite court orders banning them. Justice N K Jain told the government to file by September 8 its explanation why it failed to comply with court orders, which restrict diesel vehicles within the RNP. “The court took a strong view of the government’s recent order allowing plying of diesel vehicles in the protected forest in 2010-11,” said Anil Mehta, counsel for the petitioner. The court notices came on a petition moved by a society called Ranthambore Bagh Pariyojna. The petition has been filed in a bid to ensure a pollution-free environment. The petitioner has claimed that although court had banned the vehicles, the government framed a policy in 2011-12 to allow diesel-run canters to be used in the safari season despite a blanket ban by an order of the division bench followed by the single-judge bench in November. Mehta said the defence counsel Mahendra Singh Kachchwa argued the government had allowed only Euro-III and Euro-IV vehicles just for one year. “But the court had banned such vehicles in 2008. Similar orders were passed in 2009 and 2010 too. Still the government ordered plying of these vehicles,” Mehta said. He said the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had also recommended phasing out of diesel vehicles from wildlife reserves and replacing them by CNG vehicles. “Court orders have repeatedly asked for phasing out the diesel vehicles but government has remained defiant,” he added. Earlier, a ban was placed by division bench headed by Justice Ashok Parihar on the use of diesel-run vehicles to transport pilgrims to Trinetra Ganesh Temple in Ranthambore. Later, Justice M N Bhandari too ordered in 2010 a ban on the use of any Cantor jeeps that run on diesel to ferry tourist inside the Park. At present 48 diesel Cantors are used to take tourists inside the national park. Ranthambore National Park, located in Rajasthan, usually opens after monsoon every year. Wildlife experts have often questioned plying of diesel vehicles in the reserved forest as it not only causes a high level of pollution but also disturbs tigers and other wild animals. “Sound pollution is a matter of serious concern and officials should look into the possibility of introducing vehicles which are less noisy,” said Dharmendra Khandal, a wildlife activist at RNP.