Barely two days after rolling out its strict gasoline ban for end-of-life autos, the Delhi authorities has pressed pause on its impounding drive, bowing to a tide of public outrage and sharp criticism from opposition leaders. In a single such criticism, a former Indian Air Power officer has criticised the Delhi authorities’s determination to ban gasoline gross sales to Finish-of-Life (EoL) autos.
Former Indian Air Power officer Sanjeev Kapoor questioned the coverage’s selective enforcement by concentrating on private autos. He questioned why working 40-year-old plane and 30-odd-year-old different industrial transport are okay, however 10-year-old diesel and a 15-year-old petrol autos are unlawful to ply on the streets of Delhi.
In a publish on X (formally Twitter), he wrote, “We’re nonetheless flying plane which are over 40 years outdated & lots of our trains, buses, boats, ferries & industrial planes in every day use are greater than three many years outdated. So why are restrictions being imposed solely on private autos? With gasoline not obtainable at fuel stations, this can solely create a parallel ecosystem, which is neither sustainable nor fascinating. That’s my take.”
In response to a November 2024 evaluation report by the Centre for Science and Setting (CSE), vehicles are the most important supply of air pollution in Delhi, contributing over 51% of emissions from native sources. Regardless of initiatives such because the CNG programme, the gradual phase-out of older diesel and petrol autos, and the implementation of stricter emission requirements, the air high quality continues to degrade, particularly in winters.
The Delhi authorities from July 1, banned gasoline for end-of-life autos — 10 years or older for diesel autos and 15 years or older for petrol autos — which are deregistered and never allowed to ply on the roads as per the courtroom’s orders. Solely seven overage autos have been impounded by authorities on the second day.
