Hefty fines proposed for over 15-year-old vehicles entering Delhi

NEW DELHI: In order to reduce pollution level in the capital, Delhi government has asked the Centre to make a provision in the law to impose a hefty fines on vehicles more than 15 years old entering the city.

Concerned over the increasing pollution levels, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javedkar yesterday called a meeting with environment ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Delhi.

According to the city's government, there are thousands of old vehicles from other states, including light and heavy which cause pollution at a high level.

"We have suggested Union Environment Minister to make such a provision in the law to impose a hefty fine on over 15-year-old vehicles entering the capital to discourage them from running here," Delhi Environment Minister Asim Ahmed Khan told PTI.

Union Environment Ministry has convened a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on Monday to discuss the issue again.

Khan said that more than 15-year-old vehicles, be it from Haryana, Punjab, or Jammu & Kashmir, they should be challaned strictly when they enter the capital.

"There is an urgent need to reduce pollution levels in the national capital and keeping this in mind, we have to take some major decisions. In the past, several files to curb pollution have been prepared, but nothing happed on ground," he said.

Dismayed at the increasing level of air pollution in Delhi, National Green Tribunal had on November 26 barred all vehicles - private cars, bikes, commercial vehicles, buses and trucks - over 15 years old from plying in the capital.