New Delhi, July 9: The Delhi government on Tuesday welcomed the Centre for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) decision to defer the implementation of a fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) vehicles until November 1, citing the move as a balanced approach between environmental protection and public welfare.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called the deferral a “commendable decision” taken in the public interest and said the government would use the additional time to devise long-term, practical solutions for air quality improvement without compromising livelihoods.
“As much as it is necessary to protect the environment, it is equally important that no decision affects the livelihood and dignity of common citizens,” Gupta posted in Hindi on social media platform X.
The CAQM had earlier announced that, beginning July 1, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years would be barred from refueling in the capital, irrespective of their state of registration. However, the move faced public resistance and logistical concerns, prompting the Delhi government to seek a deferral.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa praised CAQM’s sensitivity, calling the delay a “major relief” for residents. He reiterated that while pollution control remains a top priority, enforcement actions must be grounded in scientific data, not arbitrary age thresholds.
“Polluting vehicles must be banned, but not just because they are old,” Sirsa said. “We will conduct proper studies to assess actual pollution levels and present the findings to the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT).”
Sirsa also raised concerns about the lack of vehicle scrapping infrastructure in the capital, referencing the scrapping of nearly 80,000 vehicles during the previous administration. He called for an inquiry into the matter, citing the absence of a proper disposal system in Delhi.
To aid enforcement, fuel stations across the capital have begun installing Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These systems scan vehicle number plates, cross-reference them with the central VAHAN database, and alert station staff not to refuel vehicles categorized as EOL. Violations are automatically reported to enforcement agencies, which can impound or scrap the vehicles.
Installation of ANPR cameras in five high-density districts is expected to be completed by October 31, just ahead of the new fuel ban implementation date. The Delhi government reiterated its commitment to reducing pollution but stressed the need for evidence-based policymaking that safeguards both the environment and livelihoods.
