CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
To address the persistent issue of air pollution, Delhi has enforced a fuel ban targeting older vehicles. Effective from July 1, 2025, the regulation bars diesel vehicles over 10 years and petrol vehicles over 15 years from receiving fuel at petrol pumps within the city. This measure is part of a broader strategy by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) aimed at phasing out end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) across the National Capital Region (NCR) by 2026. While expected to bring environmental benefits, the policy is facing technical and public resistance challenges.
Policy Rollout And Enforcement Strategy
The ban was initiated in Delhi ahead of its gradual extension to the broader NCR. Densely populated districts in the region will begin implementation in November 2025, with full enforcement scheduled for April 2026. The aim is to reduce vehicular emissions by eliminating older, high-polluting vehicles.
Technology At Core Of Enforcement
To identify ELVs at fuel stations, the Delhi government has equipped 498 petrol pumps and three major interstate bus terminals with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems. These AI-enabled cameras scan vehicle number plates and cross-check them with the national VAHAN database. If a vehicle matches the criteria of an ELV, the system triggers an alert, and the vehicle is denied fuel. In certain cases, non-compliant vehicles may also face impoundment unless exempted.
Operational Hurdles In Implementation
Despite the high-tech approach, several implementation challenges have emerged:
ANPR system issues: Camera malfunctions, faulty sensors, and defective speakers are reducing enforcement efficiency.
HSRP discrepancies: Problems with high-security registration plates have led to false identifications.
Data gaps: Lack of integration with vehicle data from neighboring NCR states allows ELV owners to circumvent the ban by refuelling outside Delhi.
These operational difficulties have drawn criticism and sparked demands for a temporary suspension of the ban.
Scale Of Problem: ELVs In Delhi And NCR
Data from the VAHAN database reveals that Delhi alone has over 6.2 million ELVs, including:
4.1 million two-wheelers
1.8 million four-wheelers
When considering the broader NCR including parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan the number is even higher. Vehicles manufactured before the implementation of Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission norms release significantly more pollutants, with pre-BS-VI vehicles emitting up to five times more particulate matter than newer models.
Legal Support For Ban
The ban is backed by several legal provisions:
In 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) prohibited the use of diesel vehicles over 10 years and petrol vehicles over 15 years in Delhi.
The Supreme Court upheld this decision in 2018.
The Motor Vehicles Act and the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Rules, 2025, further strengthen this initiative by mandating the scrapping of expired vehicles within 180 days of registration expiry.
These laws give regulatory teeth to the fuel restriction policy.
Environmental Objectives
Vehicular emissions are a major contributor to Delhi’s severe air pollution problem. In the NCR:
28% of PM2.5
41% of sulphur dioxide
78% of nitrogen oxide
can be traced to transport sources. By removing older, more polluting vehicles from circulation, the government aims to lower these emissions and improve air quality, especially during peak pollution seasons.
Criticism And Way Forward
Environmental organisations like the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) argue that age-based bans, while effective in urban areas like Delhi, are not scalable nationwide. They emphasize that poor maintenance, not just vehicle age, contributes significantly to emissions. The CSE recommends:
Improving fuel quality
Strengthening pollution control testing
Enhancing public transport networks
to complement the existing measures. Experts warn that focusing solely on ELVs may offer limited relief if broader systemic changes are not implemented.
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