Delhi Government Requests Suspension of Fuel Ban for Old Vehicles Amid Technical Issues

Delhi Government's Appeal to Air Quality Commission

On Thursday, the government of Delhi reached out to the Commission for Air Quality Management, asking for a halt to its recent order that prohibits fuel supply to older vehicles in the capital. This request was made due to various operational and infrastructural difficulties.

In a correspondence addressed to the air quality panel, Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, expressed concerns that the immediate enforcement of the ban could be 'premature and potentially counterproductive.'

The ban, which took effect on Tuesday, aims to phase out end-of-life vehicles as a measure to combat air pollution. According to the directive, petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles over 10 years are prohibited from refueling.

To facilitate the enforcement of this ban, nearly 350 petrol stations across the capital have been equipped with automatic number plate recognition cameras to identify such vehicles.

However, Sirsa informed the Commission that the system was malfunctioning at multiple locations, citing issues such as improper camera placement, faulty sensors, and non-functional audio systems.

He emphasized that the automatic number plate recognition system requires further testing and adjustments before it can be effectively implemented.

Sirsa urged the air quality panel to suspend the ban until the system is fully integrated across the National Capital Region and operates consistently.

The letter also highlighted that the system lacks integration with vehicle data from neighboring states, rendering it ineffective in identifying vehicles from outside that enter Delhi for refueling.

Additionally, the minister pointed out that vehicles without High Security Registration Plates were not being detected by the cameras. These plates are mandatory and include unique security features.

Sirsa argued that enforcing the ban solely in Delhi would be unjust, stating that it would dilute the intended impact and unfairly shift the burden.

He noted a significant public outcry regarding the technological inconsistencies and lack of integration with neighboring states.

As of Tuesday, authorities had seized 80 end-of-life vehicles and issued notices to 98 others that could not be impounded.

Data from the government's VAHAN database indicates that Delhi is home to over 6.2 million end-of-life vehicles.