The aim is to fight pollution by providing incentives to people. If Nitin Gadkari led Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has its way then people would soon be able to earn up to Rs.1.5 lakh if they dump their old vehicles. The ministry is currently preparing a policy note in this regard and would soon send it to the union cabinet for approval.
In order to fine tune its approach, the ministry has appointed consultancy firm McKinsey to outline the board contours of the policy. The MoRTH will soon approach the Ministry of Finance for allocation of sum under this scheme.
Under the scheme, old vehicles in working condition would be refitted with lithium-ion batteries and resold in the market and scrap materials would be sold under industrial scrap and reused in various industries. The retrofitted vehicles may later be sold to fleet owners to be used as urban taxis. MSTC and JSW group have already had talks to set up vehicle recycling plants under this scheme. Although the talks are only at an initial stage, sources have confirmed it could b finalized once sanction for the scheme comes in.
This proposal of the MoRTH comes at a time when most Indian cities are reeling under a cloud of pollution and are amongst some of the most polluted cities in the world. In Delhi, for instance, the National Green Tribunal has already banned vehicles more than 10 year old from plying on the roads. If this proposal indeed goes through, it would come as a big boost to green car lovers and will go a long way in improving air quality in various cities across the country.