NEW DELHI: The transport department of Delhi government has authorised the scrappers empanelled by it to fix a “fair” market value for more than 15-year-old vehicles being impounded for scrapping, officials said on Sunday.
Earlier this month, the department issued a detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) for scrapping diesel or petrol vehicles that are more than 15 years old by its enforcement branch.
Taking cognisance of the increasing vehicular pollution and the poor air quality in Delhi, there is an urgent need for a standing order regarding scrapping and phasing out of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) from the city roads, according to an order issued by the transport department.
The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) direction for action against old vehicles will be applicable to all categories of vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, light and heavy vehicles, irrespective of whether commercial or otherwise, the order said.
It added that the need of the hour is to maintain ambient air quality standards and tackle the rising air pollution caused by ELVs. It has been decided that vehicles that are more than 15 years old will be removed first if found plying on Delhi roads.
The SOP says such vehicles will be impounded by the enforcement teams and handed over to an authorised scrapper of the transport department in accordance with the policy guidelines.
The authorised scrapper will tow the impounded vehicle from the place of seizure to the scrapping unit.
If a dispute arises while impounding such vehicles, the enforcement team will not get involved in a conflict and will contact the local police for help, it says.
