Delhi's Vehicle Scrapping Policy for Pollution Control Is Illogical

A policy has been introduced in the country to scrap vehicles older than fifteen years, including motor vehicles, trucks, buses, and jeeps. This decision stems from efforts to address pollution, based on orders from the Supreme Court, various high courts, and the National Green Tribunal in response to public interest litigations concerning pollution in Delhi.

The key questions that arise are: Is the nation's capital equivalent to the entire country? Should a solution designed for a specific region be applied nationwide? And, were all relevant factors seriously considered before deciding to scrap fifteen-year-old petrol vehicles and ten-year-old diesel vehicles? These are critical questions, and their answers will reveal much about the current state of the system. It's worth remembering that the founders of this country were meticulous, reusing even small items like pins before discarding them. In contrast, today's government appears determined to scrap lakhs of functioning vehicles worth millions, citing pollution concerns.

The first and foremost fact is that our country continues to be classified among the poorer nations. Despite our citizens celebrating various achievements—many of which are indeed commendable—we cannot ignore the reality that millions still grapple with poverty, facing a daily struggle for survival. As we evaluate the current policy of scrapping vehicles, it is essential to assess our vehicle ownership in comparison to other countries.

According to publicly available data, the number of vehicles (including cars, vans, buses, hired vehicles, trucks, etc., excluding two-wheelers) per thousand people is as follows: 900 in the US, 870 in Canada, 840 in Australia, 810 in Japan, 755 in Italy, 655 in Germany, 560 in the UK, 400 in Brazil, 361 in Russia, 330 in Thailand, 260 in Botswana, 231 in China, 188 in South Africa, 183 in Iran, 157 in Sri Lanka, 150 in Bhutan, 113 in Nepal, 82 in Indonesia, 69 in Pakistan, and 60 in Bangladesh. In contrast, our country has only 57 vehicles per thousand people.

Globally, our country is perceived as lagging in vehicle availability, even in comparison to poorer neighbouring nations. Nevertheless, the campaign to scrap lakhs of vehicles over pollution concerns in Delhi is unprecedented elsewhere. It appears that the only issue confronting the nation is the pollution in Delhi, where the country's leadership resides. However, a detailed investigation by an IIT group revealed that vehicle emissions account for only about 20 % of total pollution.

In recent decades, a component has emerged within our system that has the authority to make decisions on public issues yet remains unaccountable to the populace. The constitution clearly delineated the three branches of government: the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive. However, over time, these boundaries have become blurred, with policies increasingly shaped by judicial orders, as seen during the push for CNG vehicles in Delhi. While the country imports CNG like other petroleum products, the struggle to reduce pollution persists. For those in power making such decisions, the plight of drivers waiting for hours at CNG stations seems to be of little concern.

An even more irrational decision is the ban on diesel vehicles older than ten years and petrol vehicles older than fifteen years from operating in Delhi, which lacks any logical basis. If the goal is to reduce pollution, a more sensible approach would be to prohibit vehicles that do not meet pollution standards until they pass a pollution test. Consider this: if a vehicle has complied with pollution standards for fifteen years, would it suddenly begin to violate those standards in the sixteenth year? All vehicles, regardless of age, are required to obtain pollution control certificates every six months. Therefore, insisting on the destruction of vehicles solely based on their age is perplexing and damages national property.

Our country is already at the bottom of the list in terms of vehicle numbers globally. In this context, it is unfortunate to scrap functioning vehicles due to a destructive policy based on flawed reasoning. Instead, there should be regular and stringent monitoring of pollution levels in vehicle emissions, allowing all vehicles to operate as long as they continue to meet the required pollution standards.

In our country, many people aspire to own a four-wheeler, which has often been fulfilled by purchasing old cars or vehicles. Today, over one hundred crore people cannot afford new vehicles, but they can manage to buy older ones. From this perspective, the policy of scrapping old vehicles unnecessarily seems contrary to the nation's interests. It appears that decision-makers lack an understanding of their own country, where many older scooters and other vehicles are still operational and even modified for goods transport, especially around Delhi.

Policymakers should not only prioritize the interests of new vehicle and truck manufacturers but also consider the needs of the one hundred crore citizens for whom buying a new bicycle or two-wheeler is a distant dream. This is a nation of 140 crore people, not just 20 to 30 crore affluent individuals. Therefore, it is unjust to burden the common populace under the pretext of reducing pollution. The government should immediately revoke the policy of scrapping old vehicles and instead focus on enforcing pollution standards for all vehicles. Any government is elected to serve the common people, not just the elite.

(Vijay Shankar Pandey is a former Secretary, Government of India)