Delhi Halts Controversial Vehicle Impounding Policy Amid Public Backlash
The Delhi government paused its End-of-Life vehicle impounding policy two days post-implementation. Initially aimed at reducing pollution by banning fuel for old vehicles, it faced opposition backlash. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa cited technical issues and advocated for pollution-based regulations instead. The suspension awaits resolution of these challenges.
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The Delhi government has temporarily halted its controversial End-of-Life (EOL) vehicle impounding policy, which aimed to ban fuel for diesel vehicles over ten years old and petrol vehicles over fifteen years old. The policy, designed to tackle pollution, met with significant public and political resistance.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the suspension, citing technical difficulties, including malfunctioning Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and integration issues with NCR data. Sirsa addressed these problems in a formal letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), requesting a policy freeze until solutions are found.
Despite the initial rollout, only 80 vehicles were impounded, attributed to low attendance at fuel stations. With over 62 lakh end-of-life vehicles potentially affected, Sirsa proposed pollution-based criteria for bans and broader NCR implementation, aligning with the Ministry's environmental goals.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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