SHILLONG, May 2: In a significant step towards environmental protection, the Meghalaya government has announced the implementation of a vehicle scrappage policy aimed at removing old, polluting vehicles from the roads. The initiative will see the scrapping of at least 13,000 old vehicles in the initial phase.
Of the total vehicles to be scrapped, 5,000 are government-owned, while the remaining 8,000 are privately owned. As per the policy, government vehicles that are 15 years or older will be decommissioned. In contrast, private vehicle owners have been given a more lenient deadline, with only those vehicles aged 35 years or more slated for scrapping.
Government spokesperson and Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh shared details of the policy following a Cabinet meeting. He stated that old and dilapidated vehicles will no longer be considered roadworthy and must be removed from circulation. The primary goals are to reduce pollution levels in the state and indirectly cut down on fuel imports.
The policy is set to be rolled out in phases. Lyngdoh emphasized that the 35-year threshold for private vehicles was chosen in view of the economic challenges faced by the public.
Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, currently has about 2.76 lakh vehicles on its roads. Other urban centers like Tura in the Garo Hills and Jowai in the Jaintia Hills also have substantial numbers of vehicles.
The move may result in the retirement of several iconic buses with wooden bodies that serve rural areas and parts of Shillong. Similarly, coal trucks that operate in the state’s coal belt—from remote mines to roadside coal depots—may also be affected under the new policy.
Lyngdoh reiterated that the vehicle scrappage policy aims to protect the environment, lower emissions, and improve the overall air quality in the state.
