
CAQM stays implementation of end-of-life vehicle policy till November 1
The meeting was held at CAQM's office at Tolstoy Marg earlier today.
According to an official statement by CAQM, direction 89 will be amended to allow EOL to receive fuel from pumps till November 1.'The 24th meeting of the Commission for Air Qaulity in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) was held today, during which issue related to implementation of Direction no. 89 as flagged by GNCTD was deliberated upon,' the statement read.CAQM said the Delhi government brought attention to the issue in a letter on July 3, highlighting 'some operational and infrastrucural challenges in implementation of direction No 89 dates April 23, 2025,' it added.
The Delhi government's letter flagged challenges in implementation by citing that the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system lacks the 'requiste robustness, with issues related to technological glitches, camera placement, working of sensors and speakers, and that the system is not yet full integrated with the database of neighbouring NCR states.'
Similarly, Chief Secretary Dharmendra also wrote a letter on July 7 saying the enforcement of geographically restricted end-of-life threshold to motor vechicles would lead to unfair treatment to vehicles here as other identical vehicles across the country can still function despite being much older.
Earlier on Monday, in an interview with ANI, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa flagged 'challenges and implementation flaws' in the CAQM order that put a ban on fuel for end-of-life vehicles in the national capital, stating that the process should be fair.
The Delhi Minister said there are operational and infrastructural challenges in implementing the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) directions concerning the fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles.
Delhi government last week urged CAQM to pause the implementation of its directions. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the decision is linked to the daily lives and livelihoods of millions of families, and there is a need for reconsideration. The directive to stop fuel supply to end-of-life vehicles took effect on July 1.
'Kejriwal (AAP) government in Delhi decided to put up the cameras and identify (end-of-life) vehicles from it. After it was communicated to CAQM, they informed the same to the Supreme Court. The top court termed it as a 'good move' and told them to implement it. CAQM issued an order to implement this from July 1,' Sirsa said.
CAQM had issued directions that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years cannot get fuel in Delhi's fuel stations from July 1.
'From July 1, all End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles identified through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at fuel stations across Delhi will not be allowed to refuel,' the directions said. (ANI)
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Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Bharat Bandh today: What remains open and what shuts down
A nationwide strike – 'Bharat Bandh' – has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, by a collective of trade unions and farmers' organisations. The protest is aimed at opposing what the groups allege are 'pro-corporate and anti-worker' policies implemented by the government. More than 25 crore workers from various industries are anticipated to join the strike, potentially leading to major disruptions in banking, transport, and essential services. (File)(ANI) Over 25 crore workers across multiple sectors are expected to take part in the strike, which could significantly disrupt banking, transportation, and other key public services. The call for the general strike comes from a joint forum of 10 central trade unions and their affiliates. These unions are protesting against labour law reforms, increased privatisation, and growing economic distress in rural areas. According to them, these policies are harming both workers and farmers. In a statement, the union forum called for large-scale participation and noted that preparations were in full swing across both formal and informal sectors to ensure the strike's 'success'. A central issue behind the strike is a 17-point demand charter submitted last year to Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The strike is expected to cause widespread disruption in several industries. 'Banking, postal, coal mining, factories, and state transport services will be affected due to the strike,' said Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha. The unions backing the protest include prominent organisations such as the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA), All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), and the United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), according to The Economic Times report. What's open and what's closed today? Banking services likely to be hit: A bank employees' group has confirmed that the banking sector will take part in the Bharat Bandh scheduled for Wednesday. The Bengal Provincial Bank Employees Association, which is affiliated with the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), has publicly declared its support for the strike. Additionally, the insurance sector is also expected to join the protest. Although no official bank holiday has been announced, the participation of employees from these sectors is likely to cause disruptions in banking services across the country. No closures announced for educational institutions: There has been no official directive mandating the closure of schools or colleges in connection with the Bharat Bandh. Educational institutions are expected to operate as usual on Wednesday. Unless specific instructions are issued by local authorities or individual managements, schools and colleges across the country will likely remain open and function without interruption. Power supply may be affected: India's electricity supply may face disturbances on July 9 due to the participation of a large number of power sector employees in the nationwide strike. Over 27 lakh workers from this sector are expected to join the Bharat Bandh, which could result in outages or disruptions in various parts of the country. The extent of the impact may vary by region, depending on union strength and local arrangements made by electricity boards. Railways not on strike, but minor disruptions possible: While railway unions have not formally declared their involvement in the Bharat Bandh, there could still be indirect effects on train operations. Historically, such strikes have led to protestors staging demonstrations at or near railway stations and on tracks, especially in regions with a strong union presence. Although a complete railway shutdown is not anticipated, localised delays and heightened security at major transit points are likely. Kerala transport could see partial impact: Kerala Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar stated that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) would continue to operate its services on Wednesday, as no official strike notice had been received from the unions. However, sources from trade unions, according to PTI, challenged this claim, asserting that a strike notice had already been issued and that KSRTC workers would, in fact, join the nationwide protest. This disagreement could lead to partial disruptions in bus services across Kerala. Public transport and road travel may face interruptions in several cities: In cities across the country, road transport services such as public buses, taxis, and app-based cabs may experience delays or limited availability due to protest marches and road blockades organised by trade unions and supporting organisations. These demonstrations are expected to impact local travel and delivery services, particularly during peak hours. Daily commuters are advised to plan their travel accordingly and anticipate possible traffic diversions and longer commute times. Why was the strike announced? The workers' union forum criticised the government for not convening the annual labour conference for the past decade. It accused the administration of making decisions that go against the interests of workers, particularly by pushing for the implementation of four labour codes. According to the forum, these codes are intended "to weaken collective bargaining, to cripple unions' activities and to favour employers in the name of 'ease of doing business'." The statement further alleged that current economic policies are contributing to worsening unemployment, increasing the cost of essential goods, and reducing wages. It added that there have been cuts in government spending on key sectors such as education, healthcare, and civic services. These combined effects, the forum claimed, are deepening inequality and hardship among the poor, lower-income groups, and the middle class. In its sharp criticism of the government, the forum claimed: "The government has abandoned the welfare state status of the country and is working in the interest of foreign and Indian corporates, and this is evident from its vigorously pursued policies." The unions reiterated their opposition to the "privatisation of public sector enterprises and public services, policies of outsourcing, contractorisation and casualisation of workforce". They also voiced concern that the four labour codes passed by Parliament are designed "to suppress and cripple the trade union movement, increase working hours, snatch workers' right to collective bargaining, right to strike, and decriminalise violation of labour laws by employers." The forum stressed that their demands include urgent measures to tackle unemployment, fill sanctioned posts, generate new employment opportunities, and improve conditions for MGNREGA workers, including better pay and increased work days. They also called for a similar employment guarantee act for urban areas. However, they argued, "the government is busy imposing ELI (Employment Linked Incentive) scheme to incentivise employers instead." It further alleged that in several government sectors, including the Railways, NMDC Ltd, steel plants, and teaching positions, the government is reappointing retired personnel rather than hiring young people. This practice, the forum claimed, is detrimental to the country's growth, especially when 65% of the population is under 35 years of age, and unemployment is highest among youth aged 20 to 25. Union leaders representing NMDC Ltd, along with other non-coal mineral sectors, steel units, state departments, and public sector companies, have also announced their participation in the strike by formally submitting notices. Support for the protest is also coming from the farming sector. 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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Delhi govt welcomes CAQM relief on vehicle ban, CM lauds decision
The Delhi government on Tuesday welcomed the Centre for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) decision to defer the implementation of the fuel ban on overage vehicles until November 1. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the "commendable decision" taken in public interest reflects a balanced and humane approach towards environmental concerns and citizens' livelihoods. "The CAQM issuing revised guidelines on the request of the Delhi government is an important and commendable decision that has been taken keeping in mind the public interest. The government welcomes this," the chief minister said in a post in Hindi on X. She said the Delhi government will use the time given by CAQM to provide further relief to residents and work collaboratively toward a long-term and practical solution. "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," she added. Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa lauded the CAQM's decision, calling it a "major relief" for the people of the city. "After our request, CAQM has shown sensitivity towards the concerns of the people. This is a big relief for Delhiites," he said. The Centre's panel on air quality in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday decided to put on hold the implementation of the fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) or overage vehicles in the national capital until November 1. EOL vehicles are diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. According to directions issued earlier, such vehicles are not to be given fuel in Delhi from July 1, irrespective of the states they are registered in. Sirsa had last week requested the CAQM to withhold action against such vehicles, calling the move "premature and potentially counterproductive", citing "operational and infrastructural challenges". Reiterating the government's commitment to improving air quality in the capital, the minister said the fight against pollution will continue, but vehicle bans must be guided by science and data rather than arbitrary age limits. "Polluting vehicles must be banned, but not just because they are old. We will conduct proper studies to assess actual pollution levels and will approach the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with our findings. Any policy must be based on emission data, not age," he said. He also raised serious concerns over the scrapping of nearly 80,000 vehicles during the previous administration. "There is no proper scrapping facility in Delhi. We want to know where those vehicles went. A thorough inquiry will be initiated into this," he said. Additionally, fuel stations in Delhi have installed Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to detect EOL vehicles. The camera reads the number plate of vehicles entering fuel stations and instantly checks with the central VAHAN database, which shows details like the vehicle's age, fuel type and registration. If the vehicle is found to be EOL, the system alerts the fuel station staff not to refuel it. The violation is recorded and sent to enforcement agencies, who are then required to take action such as impounding and scrapping the vehicle. However, public discontent and outcry over the move prompted the Delhi government to request the CAQM to halt the implementation of the move. The installation of ANPR cameras in the five high-density districts is to be completed by October 31.


News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Overage Vehicle Fuel Ban To Be Enforced From November 1 In Delhi-NCR
Delhi government lifted the ban on older diesel and petrol vehicles but will prohibit fuel supply to these vehicles starting November 1, as per sources. Days after the Delhi government lifted the ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that fuel supply to these vehicles will be prohibited starting November 1 this year. The CAQM amended its earlier Direction No. 89, postponing the implementation of the 'No Fuel" policy. The revised order will now be enforced not just in Delhi but also across five key National Capital Region (NCR) areas- Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Sonipat. Delhi's Fuel Ban Policy The Delhi government launched a major anti-pollution campaign on July 1 targeting so-called 'end-of-life vehicles". Under the original plan, petrol pumps were instructed not to dispense fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. The campaign relied on automated camera systems at fuelling stations to detect vehicle age and traffic police were given powers to impound or issue challans to violators. The initiative was spearheaded by the CAQM as part of broader efforts to control worsening air quality in the capital region. However, the move triggered strong backlash from vehicle owners following which Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the lifting of the ban and hinted that the government would work on a more balanced system to manage older vehicles. Earlier, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena formally intervened by writing to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, urging the government to put the ban on hold. In his letter, VK Saxena expressed concern over the policy's impact on common people, writing, 'It would be unfair to impound their cars and scrap them even if they have run just a few thousand kilometres." While the immediate enforcement has been deferred, officials confirmed that the policy will be implemented from November 1, with Delhi and NCR as the key enforcement zones. Senior CAQM officials maintained that the policy is crucial to curbing vehicular emissions in Delhi but agreed to delay its implementation after discussions with the Environment Secretary and following VK Saxena's letter. The government is now expected to engage in further consultations to develop a more phased and citizen-friendly enforcement strategy even as preparations continue for full-scale rollout later this year, sources said. view comments First Published: July 08, 2025, 19:40 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.