Initially, the Delhi government planned to implement the policy on April 1, but missed the term because the devices were not installed in all places.
Of the 477 fuel replenishment stations in Delhi, equipped with the system to detect the age of vehicles, the government was only 23 installations from the deployment of policy “without fuel to overcome vehicles” to contain air pollution.
To date, 372 gasoline pumps and 105 CNG replenishment stations have been equipped with a device and the rest will be brought on board in the next 10-15 days, the PTI high-ranking environmental department said.
He said the government expects to implement the system by the end of April.
Initially, the Delhi government planned to implement the policy on April 1, but missed the term because the devices were not installed in all places.
“We have completed the installation of devices at 477 fuel replenishment stations, and only 23 remained. Chief Minister Echu Hupto and Environmental Minister Mandzhinder Sirz Sirsh closely monitor the process. A complete deployment will take place by the end of this month,” the environmental official added.
Earlier, Sirsa emphasized that the government was very hard to complete the process in a timely manner, but added that it was better to delay the crackdown a little than to continue only partial implementation.
In March, the Delhi government presented its plans that fuel pumps in the national capital would not provide gasoline and diesel by a vehicle over 15 and 10 years, respectively. The city has 500 fuel replenishment stations.
The move is aimed at stopping car emissions and put a check for air pollution in the city, which remains a constant problem for residents.
For the implementation of the policy, “without fuel for excess vehicles” were installed automatic numbers (ANPR) at the fuel stations that will determine the age of vehicles based on the year of their registration.
These cameras will also find whether the vehicle has a valid pollution certificate (PUC). If the vehicle is labeled as overstretching or does not meet the pollution standards, the participants of the gasoline pump will be warned and the fuel refuel will be denied.
“Our goal is to ensure full implementation. We do not want a situation where it works on some pumps rather than others. Once each station is equipped, we will launch an initiative across the country,” Sirsa said.
The government’s decision corresponds to the ruling of the Supreme Court of 2018, which banned diesel vehicles over 10 years, and in Delhi vehicles over 15 years. The National Green Tribunal of 2014 prohibits parking of vehicles over the age of 15 in public.
In 2024, the Delhi government issued detailed guidelines for handling vehicles at the end of life, saying that such vehicles could only be released from Coundment if the owners either transferred them to private premises or registered them in another state after accepting the necessary approval.
(This story was not edited by DNA staff and published with PTI)
