On May 1 the Meghalaya government decided to go in line with the centre’s vehicle scrappage policy, aiming to phase out old and polluting vehicles. As many as 13,000 vehicles, government and private, will be forced off the road under the policy out of which 8,000 private vehicles and 5,000 government ones will be targeted in the first phase.
The policy aims to modernise Meghalaya’s vehicle fleet by creating an ecosystem by promoting sustainability, road safety, and climate preservation through scrappage incentives. No doubt the policy can boost the automotive industry and create jobs in the scrapping and recycling sectors as well as contribute to improved road safety. Some vehicle owners may struggle to afford new vehicles, especially those who have well-maintained older cars.
The policy is viewed as a loss of legacy for owners of classic and vintage cars, especially in the State where there is a strong vehicle tradition. Earlier, there was no clarity on this pat but the government made hurried clarification to say that private and commercial vehicles over 35 years old that fail fitness tests will be scrapped at Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) (RVSFs). This will not apply to vehicles registered as “Vintage” under Section 81A of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 (as amended).
Promising to establish a robust scrapping ecosystem to streamline fitness testing, collection, depolluting, and dismantling of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) the government has not given a thought on how to dispose unused vehicles cluttering roads. The abandoned vehicles occupy valuable space in Boucher road and other areas, which is an eyesore. The abandoned vehicles rotting on roads cause various issues, including traffic congestion, safety hazards, and aesthetic concerns. The vehicle scrapping policy should not only aim to promote fleet modernisation by phasing out unfit, high-emission vehicles but abandoned vehicles which could be used for illegal activities, contaminate the surrounding areas and become breeding grounds for pests.
Shillong has numerous civic issues. The spaces which could have been converted into parking lots lie unused that require the government to enforce laws against abandoned vehicles.
