New Delhi: The BJP and AAP have both distanced themselves from the current action against end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, which includes refusing fuel and seizing such vehicles. The enforcement pattern on the ground reflects the sentiment, with the initial crackdown seeing the seizing of 80 vehicles on Day One and then a drop to seven vehicles on the second day, and single-digit seizures on the third day, according to sources.It was announced earlier that all EOL vehicles would not only be denied fuel in the capital, they would also be impounded on the spot and taken for scrapping from July 1 onwards. All fuel pumps have been equipped with technology to identify such vehicles — petrol-run vehicles older than 15 years and diesel-run vehicles older than 10 years. Two Delhi govt ministers, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, holding the charge of environment, and transport minister Pankaj Singh, have voiced opposition to the drive. Sirsa said that govt was thinking of going to court against the rules, while Pankaj Singh said the earlier AAP govt failed to control pollution.AAP functionaries, including former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, former CM Atishi, and Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj, have been critical of the move. Sisodia alleged that the move was taken as BJP govt wanted to benefit automobile companies. “Many vehicles have run for barely a few kilometres and do not cause pollution, yet BJP govt is branding them unfit and ordering them to be scrapped,” said Sisodia. Sources in petrol pump associations said that the security deployed at pumps considerably decreased on the third day, and there was hardly any impounding.This is not the first time that such a move has met with stiff political resistance. In 2023, when the drive to impound such vehicles from the roadside started, transport minister Kailash Gahlot objected to it.The matter went to court, after which Delhi High Court ordered the release of “end-of-life” vehicles, but under some conditions. Amit Bhatt, MD, International Council on Clean Transportation India, however, said that the move sends a signal on the ground that polluting vehicles would not be tolerated. “Emission levels also change with various engine types; older technology vehicles have much higher emissions than newer ones,” he said. “Ultimately, if you do want clean air, then there is no option other than shifting to electric,” he said.Anil Chhikara, faculty at the Asian Institute of Transport Development, said: “The problem was that the whole exercise was done without much preparation. Also, you are putting so much resource while a handful of vehicles is being impounded.”Nischal Singhania, president of the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, said that the association is happy with the ministers’ decision advocating a halt. “It anyway will not have much effect until there is a blanket ban in NCR,” he said.
