The Delhi government seems to be backtracking on its decision to ban 15 year old commercial vehicles in Delhi by March 1998 to clean up Delhi’s air according to the Centre for Science and Environment. The BJP government is under pressure to yield to commercial lobbies because of the forthcoming elections. A notification issued under section 20 of the Air Act by the Delhi government in October 1997, had stated that no commercial vehicles including buses, trucks, and taxis can ply on Delhi’s road after March 1998. This notification also came with a detail plan to phase out old commercial vehicles in stages -- 15 years old by March,1998; 12 years old by March 1999; 10 years old by March 2000; and all medium and heavy vehicles over 8 years old by March 2001.

The government is likely to do a volte-face based on such benign arguments that not all old vehicles are polluting due to good maintenance and getting annual fitness certificates is good enough to justify their existence. This completely ignores the fact that in 15 years all vehicles outlive the specified life after which the engine needs to be junked. Besides, the inspection regime of the government is so weak that it is unlikely that offending vehicles will get weeded out.

The Centre for Science and Environment is convinced that the state government is dithering over the decision because they are fearing a major backlash from the transport lobby. The imminent election seems to have spirited away political will to implement the decision. But Anil Agarwal, director of CSE, argues that if the BJP government gives in to such lobbies at the expense of peoples’ health, then all environmental groups and public-spirited citizens should ensure that nobody votes for BJP.

CSE argues that the severity of the economic impact can be minimised by providing a one-time rehabilitation package which includes -- loans on easy terms, a buy-back arrangement or other fiscal incentives. The government can raise funds to finance this package by raising the ridiculously low one-time taxes on scooters and cars. But the government cannot disregard public health.

It is immensely ironic that when Delhiites are increasingly falling victim to air pollution related diseases, owners of flashy cars worth over Rs 7 to Rs 8 lakh, pay a pittance as one-time road tax to use scarce road space. The incidence of road tax comes to just about 3-5 paise per km which can be greatly increased.

The state government should also realise that it is very important to mobilise public opinion to create constituency for difficult decisions, in order to resist lobby pressures. Crore of rupees are being squandered by the Delhi government today to check back side emissions of vehicles. A more effective campaign would be to inform the public about how much the old and poorly maintained commercial vehicles pollute. Only politically misguided leaders can ignore the public health issues to pander to the economic interest of a few.