New Delhi: After Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa requested the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold the drive against end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, the commission will discuss the matter in a meeting on Tuesday.“The Delhi environment minister has brought to the attention of the commission that there are several critical operational and infrastructural challenges in the implementation of direction number 89 dated April 23 and urged that the commission may put the implementation of the said direction on hold with immediate effect till the ANPR system is seamlessly integrated across the entire NCR,” said the agenda note.The meeting will also review the progress in the installation of ANPR cameras in NCR states.According to CAQM’s directive number 89, all EOLs will be denied fuel in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Sonipat from Nov 1 this year and the rest of NCR from April 1, 2026. The action against EOL vehicles came into force in Delhi on July 1. However, after public outcry, Sirsa, in a letter to the commission on July 3, highlighted operational and technological shortcomings, including camera placements. He called the move “premature and potentially counterproductive.”Sirsa on Monday said, “I am hopeful that CAQM will consider our request on the matter.”All 15+ years petrol vehicles and 10+ years diesel vehicles on roads are considered as EOL vehicles. On July 1, 80 such vehicles were seized, but this number plummeted to seven the next day. The drive lost its steam from the third day.
