Older vehicles are not just a safety risk but also a major source of pollution, it says, adding that systems meant to test, scrap & recycle them are falling short of the challenge.
The Vehicle Scrapping Policy 2021 promised cleaner air, perks for owners of old cars, and gains for scrapping facilities. But complaints are growing on every front.
Scrapping & recycling will help reduce component costs by 30-40%, says Union minister. This, he adds, will help reduce steel imports by 65 lakh tonnes & create 35,000 more jobs.
Voluntary vehicle scrappage policy was launched in August, but setting up of crucial infrastructure such as scrapping facilities & automatic vehicle fitness centres proving a challenge.
The Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernisation Programme was unveiled in March. It has now been launched with an aim to remove unfit and polluting vehicles off India’s roads.
The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
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