Team-BHP - Scrap all 15-year old vehicles in West Bengal, says NGT

- - Scrap all 15-year old vehicles in West Bengal, says NGT (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/254862-scrap-all-15-year-old-vehicles-west-bengal-says-ngt.html)

Ok as expected the ban is now applicable in Kolkata and Howrah as well. Members who have 15 year old cars, what's the plan? Sell now for pittance or wait and watch? Or scrap?

It's an absolutely ridiculous decision to club commercial and private vehicles as equally polluting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalnirvana (Post 5366766)

Ok as expected the ban is now applicable in Kolkata and Howrah as well.

When did this happen? Is it like NCR's 10 year for diesels and 15 for petrol rule? Cover both commercial and private?:eek:

In a recent order, NGT's Eastern bench has directed the West Bengal government to scrap all 15-year-old vehicles over the next 6 months. More than 92 lakh vehicles will be impacted in the state, of which approx. 90% are privately owned.

Excerpt from the news article:

Quote:

The eastern zone branch of the national green tribunal has directed the West Bengal government to phase out within six months all vehicles older than 15 years, including private cars. The phase-out is expected to reduce the air pollution in Kolkata and Howrah.

Firhad Hakim, the state transport minister, said the government would appeal to the bench for more time as lakhs of vehicles will have to be phased out.

Link: Telegraph India

There we go again. Draconian, ill thought through, cruel and sadistic tactics by the tribunal.

This is absolutely unfair and absolutely cannot be implemented in this arbitrary manner in this idiotic time frame.

What are we becoming?

Looks like the car lobby is in full swing with the demand still hot and this being a seller's market.

I am absolutely sure there is enough and more pressure from the business to make such knee jerk rules and this helps government to get their tax revenue.

For some reason the central government and state government never feels satisfied with the tax revenue and chooses to target the least politically effective groups, the tax paying fools.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shankar.balan (Post 5367036)

There we go again. Draconian, ill thought through

Well, I don't think we are becoming. We already are if you look around how things are panning out. It's becoming literally impossible for a honest tax payer to live peacefully a decent life without worrying about such stuff. Sadly, neither the courts, nor the government is doing anything as it doesn't impact them.

At least they have let the Diesels to run for full 15 years, not like the senseless fiat applicable in Delhi and NCR. Now it makes complete sense to use the existing vehicles that we have for full 15 years and then replace.
Is there any way to challenge this circus called NGT? Looks like the government and the automobile lobby are on full swing to force people to buy new cars. With ever increasing costs, buying a car has become an expensive affair.
PS: I guess this is the last time we can see the remaining Ambassadors.

Test and discard ? please.

92 lakh vehicles is just too many to just discard. Majority will not be able buy newer vehicles. Why cant they pass an order saying all public transport vehicles should be CNG/Hybrid/EV within 2 years ? Or fix all roads in 6 months to make traffic flow smooth. Else please take penal action. Even China wouldn't force such decisions in short time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by self_driven (Post 5367011)

My friend has a very well maintained first generation REVA. 2008 model.
He popped down to the RTO today to ask about its fate when it crosses into its 15th year in 2023.
As expected, he did not receive any conclusive reply from anyone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by achyutaghosh (Post 5366946)

When did this happen? Is it like NCR's 10 year for diesels and 15 for petrol rule? Cover both commercial and private?:eek:

Yesterday. It is 15 years for both petrol and diesel. And yes for both commercial and private vehicles. The deadline is 6 months. Absolutely bonkers.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-ko...hs/cid/1876674

It is a ticking time bomb which may affect other states (or metros ) anytime. Does anybody know the reason why it implemented in Kolkata? Is there severe air pollution issue like NCR ?

An interesting after-effect is an increase in the demand of cars. Most car manufacturers would be rejoicing such; especially ones which are cheaper and have a moderate usable life.

How such decisions influence industry remains interesting. *Wink wink*

PS: Such wasteful use of vehicles which have longer usable life is environmentally questionable; and unelected bodies like the NGT having such influence and power over the economics and industry of a democracy, even more so.
.

Is there a possibility that this will happen in Maharashtra as well? Are there any research data available to quantify the impact it will have on the environment. I dont think NCR has been able to reduce the pollution levels even after implementing this archaic law, and now they want to take this and apply to other states.

Surely the car manufacturers and dealers will be happy as this will lead to a good amount of forced refresh. But IMHO, such regulations make sense only when we have a robust public transport infrastructure, which as of today is utterly lacking in most cities.

Here we go again... My biggest fear is this becoming a nationwide thing. Just like the Delhi-NCR rule, this screams illogical thinking. It wouldn't take much to believe that this is an attempt to increase sales as others have pointed out above either. Don't they understand that having to produce new cars every 15 years is infinitely more polluting than letting cars from the BS3/4 era still ply on the roads? And that other sources of pollution besides cars actually exist? Soft targets like car owners are rapidly becoming the punching bags for such "activism". "Tyre extinguishers" anyone? :Frustrati