India to Stop Fueling Vehicles Over 15 Years Old in New Delhi to Tackle Pollution

In a bid to curb environmental pollution, India has decided to take a significant step by phasing out vehicles that are over 15 years old. Starting from April 1, vehicles that are older than 15 years will no longer be fueled in the capital, New Delhi.

According to Indian media reports, the country’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, stated that the government will install devices at all petrol pumps to identify vehicles that are over 15 years old. This measure is part of India’s ongoing efforts to reduce pollution in the capital city and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR).

It’s important to note that a similar policy has already been in place in New Delhi and NCR, which bans the operation of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. In 2021, a directive was issued stating that starting from January 2022, vehicles in violation of this rule would be seized and sent to scrap yards.

New Delhi, along with Lahore in Pakistan, frequently ranks among the cities with the highest air pollution levels in the world. During November and December, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in these cities often ranks among the worst globally, making it difficult to breathe. Contributing factors include crop burning and smoke-emitting vehicles, which exacerbate the situation.