A big change is going to happen in the country’s capital Delhi from July 1, 2025. From now on, 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles will not get petrol-diesel at any fuel station in Delhi. This decision has been taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to control the increasing air pollution. But now the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) has expressed deep concern over this new policy. The association has urged the government to remove the penalty provisions imposed on the dealers under this rule.
What is this new policy and to whom will it apply
CAQM has clearly stated that diesel vehicles that are End-of-Life (EOL) those which are more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles that are more than 15 years old will not get diesel and petrol at any fuel station in Delhi. This rule will not only apply to old vehicles registered in Delhi but will also apply to old vehicles of any state that are running in Delhi. This is a comprehensive step that aims to make Delhi’s air clean.
Why do the dealers object
DPDA has written a letter to Delhi’s Transport Minister Pankaj Singh and Transport Commissioner and registered its objections. The association says that under this government policy, if any petrol pump employee even by mistake gives fuel to an old vehicle, then legal action will be taken against him. Apart from this, there is also a provision for arrest, which according to them is impractical.
The letter also states that under the Essential Commodities Act, no petrol pump can refuse to give fuel to any customer, while this new policy is contrary to that. This creates a situation of legal conflict, which will make it difficult for the dealers to work.
Will the problems of petrol pump employees increase
The DPDA also said that the government is forcing the dealers or pump attendants to behave like enforcement officers, while their job is only to give fuel, not to check vehicles or enforce the law. In such a situation, giving them additional responsibility can increase both risk and stress.
The DPDA cited the recent incident in Ghaziabad where a pump employee was shot while enforcing the ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ rule. The incident has raised fears that rules like ‘no fuel for old vehicles’ can also put the safety of pump staff at risk.
Demand for police protection and SOP
The association has demanded the government deploy an adequate police force at all fuel stations till the policy is fully implemented to avoid any untoward incident.
Also, DPDA says that no SOP has been shared by CAQM so far, due to which the pump employees are not able to know how to implement this policy in the market. Without proper guidelines and training, it will be challenging for employees to follow this complex rule.
DPDA has requested the government to clarify all guidelines, SOPs, and safety measures before implementing this policy of not giving fuel to old vehicles. Also, the provision of any kind of punitive action against dealers should be removed, as this will affect the incoming service and create fear among the employees.