Auto companies have also demanded for complete scrapping policy for old cars and return offer incentives and benefits for purchase of a new car.
Following the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) order to ban all diesel vehicles in Delhi older than 10 years to curb pollution, the Indian automotive industry has asked for more comprehensive measures to reduce pollution in the city. Several auto companies, as well as SIAM have demanded to completely scrap 10 years and older cars and instead provide incentives to owners to purchase fuel efficient vehicles with a smaller carbon footprint. The order is expected to cover 1.19 lakh private diesel vehicles as well as 35,000 commercial vehicles that are currently plying in the city.
SIAM has been asking for a fleet modernisation programme for around five years now that helped the European market upgrade to more fuel efficient vehicles while also get rid of its ageing car population. Certain auto companies have stated the ban to be short sighted and recommended that stringent pollution checks would have been a better alternative. Auto companies have also asked the authorities to consider the fitness of vehicles, quality of fuel and adulteration that are major contributors to air pollution. Manufacturers stated further that India-made vehicles already adhere to the European Union’s production guidelines with most parts reusable after the vehicle is scrapped.
On the other end of the ban, the government authorities and the Delhi Police are having a hard time keeping up with the number of vehicles to be impounded. The Delhi Police stated to be short of resources and manpower to complete the task. In fact, the authorities are still not done with the last year’s NGT ban over 15-year-old vehicles and now impounding 10-year-old diesel cars has only made things complicated. At present, around 100 vehicles were impounded in the nation’s capital with a full-scale drive to continue in the following days as well. The police have also covered the 11 entry points around Delhi to stop old diesel vehicles from entering the city.
The pollution situation in Delhi is at alarming levels with the life of residents at stake, however, 15-year-old diesel powered vehicles only constitute around one percent of the total population and are a fraction of the emission source. The Tribunal has asked the Transport Department of Delhi government to create a comprehensive data of registration of vehicles that are more than 10-years-old.
Source – EconomicTimes.com and FinancialExpress.com
