Government May Revise Scrapping Policy: Experts Critique the Current Formula

Currently, India has a mandatory vehicle scrapping rule for old vehicles, which is based on the age of the vehicle. However, the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has hinted at a potential shift in policy focus. Instead of relying solely on the vehicle’s age, the government might consider scrapping vehicles based on their pollution levels. This potential change is being seen by experts as a possible U-turn in the government’s scrapping policy.

Potential Shift in Scrapping Policy

Anurag Jain’s Statement: Anurag Jain, Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, addressed the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) annual meeting, stating, “People have asked us why they should be forced to scrap their vehicles if they are maintaining them well. We are exploring whether pollution levels, rather than the vehicle’s age, could be used as a criterion for scrapping. For example, vehicles that are pre-BS-1 or BS-2 might be targeted for scrapping.”

Current Regulations

Existing Rules: Currently, Delhi mandates the scrapping of vehicles older than 15 years. According to a Supreme Court ruling in 2018, petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years are prohibited from operating on roads in Delhi-NCR. This decision was aimed at removing old and pollution-emitting vehicles from the streets.

Challenges in Implementation: Anurag Jain highlighted the need for a reliable system to issue pollution certificates. There have been concerns that some vehicles are easily obtaining fitness certificates due to lax enforcement of PUC (Pollution Under Control) norms.

Expert Opinions on the Scrapping Policy

Automobile Expert’s View: Automobile expert Dhawan noted that similar discussions have occurred in the past without any policy changes. He believes that updating the policy to focus on emission levels rather than age would be beneficial for both the public and the environment. He argued that it is not sensible to spend on manufacturing and then scrapping vehicles based solely on their age, suggesting that more practical solutions should be explored.

Road and Safety Expert’s Perspective: Anurag Kulshreshtha, a road and safety expert, emphasized the need for uniform regulations across the National Green Tribunal (NGT), central, and state levels to eliminate confusion. He pointed out that there are differing rules for pollution certificates and scrapping policies across states. He advocates for a maintenance-based scrapping criterion rather than an age-based one, arguing that it would be more logical and effective.