Banning Vehicles Older Than 10 Years May Not be Enough to Fight Pollution

The National Green Tribunal issued a decree earlier this week, which will see a ban on all diesel vehicles older than 10 years old in the national capital. The tribunal had also expressed its disappointment over the government's lack of response. However, this time the government jumped in to action immediately - reports claim the Delhi traffic police impounded 96 such vehicles a day after the order was issued.

The order and the consequent measures to enforce it are all wonderful, but is it enough? Will taking about 1.19 lakh private diesel cars along with almost 35,000 commercial vehicles off the road help the government deal with city's constantly growing pollution? The industry doesn't think so, and we agree. India's automobile industry believes the endeavour to bring the city's pollution under control would do well with a policy to scrap old vehicles.

Since India suffers from a lack of concrete rules and policies to deal with its ageing car population, carmakers in India have been complying with global precedents instead.

Other than the ban and the scrapping policy, stricter norms for vehicle fitness, pollution checks, and fuel quality will also come in handy, some believe.