As part of an major anti-pollution campaign, Delhi’s environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa revealed that from March 31, vehicles more than 15 years old will be barred from filling up their tanks at petrol stations. The measure is meant to combat increasing pollution in the capital and will be enforced strictly at fuel stations with the help of technology to identify old vehicles. The new BJP government has brought in several stringent pollution control measures including banning of older vehicles, imposing stringent norms on anti-smog installations and faster migration to electric public transport system. Sirsa said petrol pumps will have gadgets to identify vehicles which are more than 15 years old and therefore not allowed to fill petrol. Moreover, high rise buildings, commercial complexes and hotels will have to ensure the installation of anti-smog guns to keep pollution in check. Delhi airport and most big construction projects will also have to meet these standards. The government is focusing on pollution control through technological advancement and stronger regulations. In order to enhance the fight against pollution in Delhi, the government is planning to phase out almost 90 per cent of the current public CNG buses and replace them with electric buses by December, 2025. This shift is in line with attempts to advance the cause of sustainable transportation and the mitigation of climate change. Nischal Singhania, president of Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, endorsed the fuel restriction policy, pointing out that 15-year-old vehicles had been prohibited by the Supreme Court. He said that the current systems can be easily adapted to implement the new rule effectively. Furthermore, the government is expecting to get green signal for cloud seeding to bring artificial rain when the pollution rises. The BJP and the AAP continue to trade charges of being pro-pollution, but the new anti-pollution measures show that both parties are finally prepared to fight pollution in the national capital.
