Government proposal to get rid of old vehicles: Cash for clunkers, subsidy for rich

The government’s proposal to provide cash incentive to get rid of old vehicles to curb pollution is preposterous. While it may succeed in getting rid of older cars — 10 years or more in keeping with the National Green Tribunal order — the impact on pollution levels will not be of the magnitude that is required. The proposal to hand out money to the rich — India is not the US where car ownership is the norm rather than the exception — is elitist, besides a covert subsidy for the auto industry.

If the government has money to fight pollution, let it address the poor quality of fuels and the absence of uniform vehicle emission standards. Stringent vehicle emission norms without improving fuel quality have no meaning. First, the government should put in place norms for cleaner fuels. Oil refineries should be mandated to producing fuel with lower levels of impurities and pollutants. Cleaner fuels will mean lower particulate matter in tailpipe emissions. This must be followed up with a timetable for uniform adoption of the more stringent vehicle emission standards — Bharat Stage V and VI — across the country. Studies show that adopting Bharat Stage VI norms by 2020 could reduce 55 per cent of the particulate matter and 47 per cent of nitrous oxide emissions.

Simultaneously, it must put in place stronger inspection and enforcement measures. The notion that taking older cars off the roads will reduce pollution is escapism. We need efficient public transport to tackle the problem and curb the exponential rise in the number of cars on the road. Further, it is engine performance and not age of vehicles that should matter. Pollution-under-control certificates are useless. More frequent checking of vehicles for pollution levels and stiff penalties are the answer. No point wasting money on subsidies to the rich.