New Delhi: From his elevated office platform at the petrol pump near Anand Vihar railway station, Nischal Singhania observes incoming vehicles while contemplating what it would be like on Tuesday, when restrictions on refuelling by end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) kick in. Although he has briefed his staff about the process, he remains concerned, particularly because the required gear, including speakers, hasn’t been installed yet.Delhi govt is geared up to prohibit ELVs from getting fuel at the city refilling stations. Enforcement teams comprising officials of the transport department, municipal corporation and traffic police will be at hand to impound such vehicles —diesel engines more than 10 years old and petrol cars older than 15 years. Singhania, who is also president of Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA), said, “We will begin the enforcement tomorrow but till now, there was no dry run. So, I do not know where the enforcement teams will bestationed. There is no communication from the authorities yet.”Singhania said that the pumps could deny ELVs fuel, but couldn’t impound them, which is the job of the enforcement teams. “We only hope there are no unruly scenes at fuel pumps,” he said.A senior govt official claimed that by Monday evening, things had been ironed out, and fuel dealers had been informed about enforcement teams to be stationed at their outlets. He said 380 teams had been formed, covering all the refilling stations in the capital.Each outlet would have two automatic number plate recognition cameras that would capture the registration plates and match with centralised data to identify vehicles exceeding their permitted age. Signboards would be prominently displayed, saying, “Fuel will not be dispensed to end-of-life vehicles. By order: Delhi govt.”Another official revealed that one team would be deployed at fuel stations with one officer empowered to impound and fine ELVs. The standard operating procedures issued to the pump owners said that there would be “immediate legal action by enforcement teams” when ELVs were identified. This would include “impounding and disposal in accordance with Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility Rules and as per the guidelines issued by the transport department”.Singhania questioned the practicality of such measures exclusively within Delhi. “We are all with govt when they want to remove polluting vehicles from the roads. But if we deny someone fuel, that vehicle can drive 2km from here and refill at Indirapuram in UP. So how effective is it if the ban is implemented in Delhi only?” he asked.At another petrol pump in Mayur Vihar extension, the staff wondered who to inform for action against ELVs should such a vehicle come there. “We have one ANPR camera, but there are two rows from which vehicles enter our station for fuelling,” said one of the staff. Ajay Bansal, owner of the petrol pump, said, “We will assist govt in the policy, but will not get involved in things like impounding. We cannot get involved in quarrelling with customers.“The fuel stations will also submit a weekly list of non-compliant vehicles to pollution watchdog Commission for Air Quality Management and the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas for further action. According to a directive of Commission for Air Quality Management, beginning July 1, all ELVs — described as diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years — will not be allowed to refill their tanks in Delhi, regardless of the state in which they are registered.Chief minister Rekha Gupta said on Monday that the state govt was actively exploring measures to stop the refuelling of ELVs as part of efforts to curb rising pollution levels in the capital. “In light of Delhi’s pollution crisis, the Supreme Court and regulatory bodies, including CAQM, have consistently stressed the need to phase out ELVs,’ Gupta said.She added, “Such vehicles should not be provided with petrol. Govt is looking into how this can be effectively implemented. The court has also suggested the installation of cameras at petrol pumps and we are examining the feasibility of this proposal.”
