Government at its wits' end as vehicle scrapping policy has very few takers

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Despite the state gover nment's efforts to reduce pollution through the State Vehicle Scrapping Policy, response from vehicle owners has been lukewarm, reports suggest on Saturday.

Out of 91.5 lakh vehicles older than 15 years, Around 33 lakh vehicles are registered in the city alone. However, only a few thousand vehicles have been scrapped as of March 31, 2023, highlighting the gap between policy implementation and public participation.

The Registered Vehicle Scrapping Policy of Karnataka aims to push out unfit, polluting vehicles from traffic to enable safer and more fuel-efficient alternatives. Not only the scheme targets to reduce emissions from end-of-life vehicles but also aims to establish a more efficient recycling and disposal system for these vehicles.

Around 14.3 lakh end-oflife vehicles without certificates of fitness are eligible for scrapping, across the state. Reportedly by 2027, another 66 lakh vehicles are estimated to reach the 15-yearold mark, making the issue much more concerning for the government.

This voluntary nature may contribute to the slow adoption rate as owners may lack the incentive or awareness to scrap their old vehicles.