Key Highlights:
- Road Minister, Nitin Gadkari gave the policy a green signal
- Starting April 2023, Vehicles older than 15 years are to be scrapped
- The policy got a heads-up from the government but was repelled back by some states
- Remedial measure in reverence of pollution due to stubble burning by rice-producing states.
At the felicitation ceremony of Agro-Vision exhibition in Nagpur, the Road minister Nitin Gadkari gave the policy to scrape off 15-year old vehicles a green signal. The vehicles which have completed a lifespan of 15 span will be scrapped starting April 2023. Nitin Gadkari, stated that the policy was in the pipeline earlier this year and was scheduled for April 2022 but had a setback because some states were not on board. But starting April, 2023, all the 15-year-old vehicles will be scrapped.
The vehicles included in this category majorly constitute government vehicles and have a mandate for states to submit the data regarding state vehicles to the appropriate authorities. A mandatory non-renewal of registration for 15-year-old vehicles has been passed regarding the same. The vehicle number will not be much so accumulation of data will start soon.
see also – The Incentives of the New Uttar Pradesh Electronic Vehicle Policy
The policy came to light in lieu of the environmental damage taking effect due to stubble burning majorly in North-India. Major rice-producing states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana etc., have been the major-targets because of the leftover rice-straw. And in the wake of moving forward to gaining zero Carbon emissions, adding ethanol and bio-bitumen is advised to be introduced as fuel in vehicles with different integration.
Nitin Gadkari also briefed about setting up two industrial plants of Indian Oil in Panipat to consume this leftover rice straw in ethanol production. The policy puts up a mandate over government vehicles and asks private and commercial vehicle owners to have a voluntary settlement. Scrapping 15-year-old vehicles will prove beneficial for the new Electric vehicles in the market.
Government asked the States to implement the policy with full zeal to get desired output of reduced pollution and welcome new automobiles with full impact. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan acknowledged Gadkari’s efforts. The policy will uphold great plans towards a clean and sustainable environment and unfold the potential of electric vehicles in the industry.
