The vehicle ban problem of Delhi is finally going to the Supreme Court. There has been a battle to provide relief to citizens concerned about the sudden stoppage of fuel for old vehicles. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has assured that the Delhi government will present its position regarding End of Life vehicles before the Supreme Court soon. The goal is to safeguard the rights of the people of Delhi while also upholding anti-pollution measures.
Delhi Government’s Scheme on End of Life Vehicles
The Chief Minister added that a letter was written by Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa to CAQM, asking them to revive the plan justly. In her opinion, the government will put its case before the Supreme Court and ask the agencies involved in this decision to pay attention to the public’s hardship. She added that Delhi should be treated the same way as the rest of India and should not penalize common citizens while they are doing their work and living their daily life.
What Triggers the Ban
From July 1, Delhi imposed a prohibition on diesel cars more than 10 years old and petrol cars more than 15 years old. Supply of fuel to these cars was halted in order to curb air pollution in the city, which usually grapples with poisonous smog during winter. But most people protested against this order as it has brought grave inconvenience to car owners who rely on these cars and motorbikes for daily work and transportation.
Impact on Vehicles
According to official data, nearly 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi, including cars, two-wheelers, trucks, and vintage models, have been affected by the End of Life rule. The order was intended to cut pollution since vehicles contribute around half of Delhi’s toxic air, making them a major pollution source.
How Cameras Were Used
Authorities had installed cameras at 498 petrol pumps across the city to identify End of Life vehicles. These cameras were connected to a central database to check number plates and alert fuel station staff so that such vehicles could not be refueled.
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Delhi’s Preparation Challenges
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena also protested by sending a letter to the Delhi government. He complained that Delhi is not prepared to implement such a ban at this time because there are no adequate systems to scrap or dispose of lakhs of aged vehicles all at once. Due to this reason, he urged the order be suspended until there are more adequate facilities and planning available to deal with the large number of the affected vehicles.