New Delhi, September 22, 2000: Centre for Science and Environment is angry with the way the Delhi government has cowered to the whims of the automobile industry and has so readily trashed its own proposals that for the first time was designed independent of the Supreme Court rulings. A composite list of actions awaiting a nod from the Delhi Cabinet for over a year never saw the light of day. Instead, only one action that is most attractive to the automobile industry – phasing out of old vehicles so that they can sell more vehicles gets announced with so much aplomb. CSE feels that phasing out of old vehicles though an important policy measure, taken in exclusion of all else reeks of partisan policy. Besides, this is too little.

Only in March 2000 the Delhi government had held meetings with all stakeholders including civil society groups giving an impression that the government was prepared to take proactive stand to deal with the air pollution problem in Delhi. The Cabinet proposal saw impressive listing of important actions that included among others banning of diesel private cars, registration of only four stroke two wheelers, speeding up of CNG implementation, and fiscal incentive for CNG retrofitment. But the government is now silent on these matters. Old vehicles as always remain its soft target.

The government seems most keen to hand over a huge replacement market on a platter to the industry without ensuring that manufacturers take responsibility of the emission performance of the vehicles they produce for its useful life. In fact the most important action point that was recorded after the ministerial consultation in March 14, 2000 was that manufacturers would have to give emissions warranty for two- wheelers from 1.10.2002. But ultimately, the government could not muster enough courage to push the mighty automobile industry and enforce it.

CSE urges the Delhi government to revive its original proposal, to make it more holistic and implement it immediately. Given the state of Delhi’s air the government can ill afford to resort to such piecemeal gestures.

 The key action points in the Cabinet note that was discussed in a ministerial consultation with stakeholders in Delhi March 14, 2000

• Only new autos and taxis running on clean fuel like CNG or battery operated should be registered from 1.4.2000
• Existing autos and taxis retrofitted with CNG or LPG as and when approved by the Government shall be allowed but their age will still be fixed at 15 years.
• Prayer to be made in the Supreme Court for extension of deadline to (March 31, 2001) convert pre-1990 autos and taxis to CNG.
• Only four stroke two wheelers fitted with catalytic converters will be registered from 1.10.2000 in the national capital territory.
• Manufacturer will have to give emissions warranty for the legally specified useful life of the these vehicles effective from 1.10.2002. Supreme Court to be requested to extend this provision to whole of NCR.
• 18 year old scooters will be banned from 1.6.2000 and 15-18 year old from 31.3.2000
• Only those commercial vehicles and transport vehicles (light commercial vehicles, medium commercial vehicles and heavy commercial vehicles, buses, intra-state carriage etc ) will be allowed from 1.10.2000 only if they meet Euro II norms.
• All buses including mini and Omni buses and local taxis will ply on CNG or other approved clean fuels.
• Supreme Court to be requested to extend this provision to whole of NCR.
• Tenders to be invited for 3000 new CNG buses to be able to meet Supreme Court deadline.
• All new non-commercial vehicles of the Government of NCT, its undertakings and autonomous bodies will be retrofitted with CNG kits by 30.6.2000. Future replacement will be with CNG only.
• Registration of diesel driven passenger vehicles with capacity upto 12 passengers in the private category to be banned in the National Capital Territory because of particulate matter emissions and their misuse as commercial vehicles with immediate effect.
  
  Supreme Court to be requested to extend this provision to whole of NCR.
• Transfer of ownership of auctioned/disposed vehicles of government/defence services/public sector undertakings in NCT of Delhi.
• Registration of only those private non- commercial and transport vehicles shall be allowed in NCT that complies with emission standards in force and are also in accordance with the Supreme Court directions.
• Conversion and change in registration of commercial vehicles into private non- commercial vehicles will not be allowed except in the case of DLY.
• Replacement of an engine of any vehicle shall be allowed only by engine meeting the current mass emission standards and it should be replaced only with engine specified at the registration certificate or that run on clean fuel etc.
• Giving 3 per cent interest subsidy and 6 per cent complete sales tax exemption with 15 per cent margin money at 13.5 per cent interest rate repayable in 44 instalments to Delhi Finance Corporation.
• Giving 7 per cent interest subsidy on the purchase of CNG kit with 15 per cent margin money at 13.5 per cent interest rate repayable in 44 instalments.
• The owners and permit holders of pre 1990 autos could also be given the option to purchase new Omni 8 seaters taxi/ battery operated vehicles.
• The life span of all the new replaced vehicles will be normally 10 years from their initial date of registration.
• Government of India, Supreme Court and EPCA may be urged to issue instruction to other states comprising NCR regarding harmonisation of measures.