Transport minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday issued an order to stop the ongoing enforcement drive to confiscate vehicles that have surpassed their life and send them for scrapping, stating it was “invasive” and “did not have government approval”.
In a written order to the state transport commissioner, Gahlot said, “It is unfortunate that the department continues with its drive of seizing and thereafter sending vehicles parked on the roads for scrapping.”
The transport department had launched a drive in March to lift vehicles that had surpassed their life — 15 years in the case of petrol vehicles and 10 years for diesel ones — and send them for scrapping. The action was meant to nudge people to scrap their aged vehicles instead of abandoning them on the road, the department had said. Close to 12,000 vehicles had been seized in this manner in the past six months. The owners were paid compensation as per the rates decided by the Union steel ministry.
Gahlot’s letter stated that “concerns” have been raised by Delhi high court in various writ petitions by owners whose vehicles have been seized by the enforcement team of the transport department.
“My attention has also been drawn to the office memorandum issued by the transport department which does not have the government’s approval. Such an action is affecting the larger section of the population and is invasive in nature,” he said, adding that the transport commissioner “ought to have taken prior approval from the government before taking such a decision”.
Gahlot said seizing of vehicles parked outside their owners’ houses is not proper. “If the interpretation of ‘public street’ as given in the office memorandum dated June 23 is considered to be correct, then every car parked outside houses needs to be towed away or issued challan, irrespective of vehicle life,” he said.
Directing that seizing and scrapping of parked vehicles should be discontinued, he asked the transport commissioner to frame a policy after due consultation.
This is the second time the ministry has given the order to the state transport commissioner. In May too, Gahlot had written a letter saying forcefully towing away parked vehicles was not allowed and needed to be discontinued. Thereafter, the drive was halted but resumed later.
A senior Delhi government official said the drive was being carried on the instructions of Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) after formulating a standard operating procedure. “We are bound to follow its instructions as it is as a statutory body formed by the government to carry out air quality management,” he added.
Delhi has deregistered 55 lakh vehicles but many of them still ply on the roads and are one of the major sources of pollution, the official said. “Also, stationary vehicles are not just choking lanes and roads, slowing traffic. Many have weeds grown inside, leading to water accumulation and mosquitoes breeding,” he added.
