Delhi bans entry of petrol, diesel vehicles in bid to curb pollution

The Delhi government has banned the entry of petrol and diesel vehicles into the national capital from November 27 to December 3. Only CNG vehicles and EVs will be allowed to enter Delhi, said environment minister Gopal Rai in a press conference. Vehicles engaged in essential services, however, have been exempted. 

The move is aimed at curbing Delhi’s air pollution, which has spiked in recent weeks. Although the order will affect the movement of commercial vehicles, it remains to be seen if private vehicles are also included under its ambit.

The move is part of a series of steps taken in the past few days to arrest the deteriorating condition of the city’s air quality. However, the timing and adequacy of the measures has come under questioning and also drawn sharp comments from the Supreme Court.

Air pollution has been a long-term problem for Delhi, attracting bespoke rules and regulations. For instance, petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years are barred from plying on the capital’s roads. The Delhi government has also been pushing for electric vehicles with its EV policy, though it recently ended subsidies  for electric cars.

In the past, diesel vehicles  with an engine capacity of over 2.0-litre were banned in the national capital, though the order was reversed later. The odd-even rule is another tactic that the state government has relied on in recent years to tackle pollution.

Image source - PTI

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