No respite as confusion prevails over Delhi fuel ban, orders awaited

India Today

3 days ago

After an intense backlash over the recent fuel ban targeting End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles, the Delhi Government yesterday announced that EOL vehicles will not be impounded. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa clarified on Thursday that the government is working on an alternative system to manage vehicular pollution without compromising citizens' rights.'We will not let Delhi's environment be harmed, nor will we permit the confiscation of vehicles owned by its residents,' Sirsa assured, signaling a softened stance after days of confusion and outrage.advertisementThe controversy stems from a direction issued under the 2018 Supreme Court ruling that bans diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi. A separate 2014 NGT order also bars such vehicles from parking in public spaces. The implementation of this directive recently extended to fuel stations, prohibiting fuel sales to EOL vehicles, a move that was heavily criticised.
In a letter addressed to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Sirsa urged a pause to the enforcement of the order until the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is fully functional across the entire National Capital Region (NCR).The minister highlighted multiple operational roadblocks:Technological glitches and improperly placed ANPR cameras within DelhiLack of integration with NCR states' databasesUninstalled ANPR systems in adjoining regions like Gurugram and NoidaPotential rise in illegal fuel procurement due to cross-border loopholesWater Minister Parvesh Verma echoed these concerns, stating that ANPR implementation is flawed and age-based bans are irrational. 'Vehicles should be banned by looking at their pollution levels, not just their age,' he asserted, adding that uniform enforcement is absent across NCR cities.Verma also confirmed that Delhi officials are planning to meet with CAQM to iron out these issues.Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Delhi government and CAQM, following a plea by the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, which challenged the legality of enforcing the at fuel stations.Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in a statement on X, acknowledged the public distress, "This decision is adversely affecting the daily lives and livelihoods of millions of families We are fully committed to fighting air pollution, but the transition must be balanced with citizens' social and economic needs."Senior AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Atishi, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Delhi Government over the controversial vehicle fuel ban, accusing it of acting in haste and lacking administrative clarity. Saurabh Bharadwaj mocked the government's handling of the policy, likening it to the fictional 'Phulera ki Panchayat,' and questioned why the government was so eager to enforce a ban allegedly based on a Supreme Court directive, only to now seek to bypass it. He criticised the overzealous push to implement the order by March 31 and questioned the role of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), calling it a bureaucratic body rather than a judicial authority. "If they could revoke it now, why didn't they do so earlier?" he asked, raising doubts about the motivations behind the policy.advertisementDelhi Leader of Opposition Atishi echoed similar sentiments, branding the BJP as a 'government of U-turns' that acts under public pressure without any consistency or accountability. She pointed out that despite the public statements, no official order has yet been issued to withdraw the ELV fuel ban, further deepening the confusion. Atishi also alleged collusion between the BJP and automobile manufacturers, claiming the sudden push to scrap over 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi was driven by vested commercial interests rather than environmental concern. Demanding transparency, she challenged the BJP to reveal how much funding it had received from car manufacturers and scrap dealers, calling for answers to what she termed a betrayal of public trust.Despite the Delhi government's plea for postponement, CAQM is yet to issue a formal response, leaving fuel station operators in limbo. A worker at a Connaught Place petrol pump said, 'We haven't received any written order yet. Only when the company sends us a letter can we act accordingly.'advertisementUntil CAQM officially places the directive on hold, the ban technically remains in effect, adding to the ongoing confusion among citizens and enforcement bodies.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch