According to sources, the Meghalaya administration is nearing completion on a vehicle scrappage policy and would shortly present it to the cabinet for approval. “The policy is at its final stage,” a transport department official verified. However, because procedures are still being worked out, the government has not yet decided whether or not cars that are more than 15 or 20 years old would be discarded. Concerns over the persistence of outdated, unsuitable cars are growing as Shillong’s roads are overloaded with traffic, congested, and small lanes.
“The Pollution Control Board must recommend the vehicle scrappage policy to control pollution arising from vehicular emissions to phase out old vehicles,” said R. Nainamalai, chairman of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), underscoring the policy’s necessity. In Meghalaya, a large number of cars are over ten years old and should be phased out. Adoption of this is required not only nationwide but also in the state of Meghalaya.
He also emphasized that the transportation department’s collaboration is necessary to control vehicle emissions. Commercial vehicles older than 15 years and private vehicles older than 20 years must be scrapped if they fail required fitness and emissions tests, according to the Indian Vehicle Scrappage Policy, which went into effect in April 2022. But Meghalaya hasn’t put the policy into effect yet, so its roads are clogged and its pollution levels are out of control.
