Delhi fuel ban sparks debate over age restrictions on personal vehicles

A former Indian Air Force pilot, Sanjeev Kapoor, has expressed his views on the Delhi government's decision to ban the refuelling of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. The order is currently under review as the BJP government led by Rekha Gupta has asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to pause the enforcement.

Kapoor raised concerns about the focus on personal vehicles while older modes of transport continue to operate without restrictions. He questioned why restrictions are only being imposed on personal vehicles when aircraft over 40 years old and other modes of transport that are decades old are still in use.

He also highlighted the potential unintended consequences of the ban, stating that it could lead to the creation of an unsustainable parallel ecosystem.

The Delhi government has faced public backlash over the fuel ban for 'end of life' vehicles, which includes petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel vehicles over 10 years old. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa cited technological challenges and complex systems as reasons for putting the order on hold. He mentioned that authorities are considering a plan to seize poorly-maintained vehicles instead of penalizing owners who maintain their vehicles properly.

According to the source: Mint.