Petrol-diesel ban on old vehicles!

Delhi: Amid tight security in Delhi, the ban on providing petrol and diesel to old vehicles has begun. Under this campaign, petrol-powered vehicles older than 5 years and diesel-powered vehicles older than 10 years will not be allowed to get fuel from petrol pumps. And the joint teams of Transport Department, Traffic Police and Delhi Municipal Corporation seized 25 EOLs (vehicles that have completed their time limit) in the first day’s action.

Petrol pumps have been directed not to give fuel to such vehicles, and automatic number plate reader cameras (ANPR) have been installed at more than 350 petrol pumps in Delhi. The Air Quality Commission has also warned petrol pump employees. In fact, long ago, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has passed orders to stop vehicles older than the prescribed period from running in DelhI.

Strictness was also exercised from time to time to comply with the order but the expected results were not being achieved. Dumped old vehicles, which were parked in public places, were also seized but the owners of such vehicles did not show any fear or desire to comply with the law. But considering the damage caused by pollution by vehicles, it became necessary to strictly remove old vehicles from the road. Now technology is proving to be very helpful in this work. The cameras installed at petrol pumps to identify old vehicles are operated by artificial intelligence (AI).

They have also been fitted with an automatic hooter system. As soon as a banned vehicle reaches a petrol pump, the cameras immediately detect it and sound the hooter to alert the workers engaged in the campaign. After the action, many drivers were forced to go home without their vehicles. Of course, there is a need for strictness on polluting vehicles as well as industries etc. But it is also necessary that the terms of facilities like term loans for purchasing new vehicles should be made easier so that this campaign cannot be termed as anti-citizen.