U-Turn After Backlash: Delhi Govt Shelves Fuel Ban on Older Cars

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The Wire
On July 3, the Delhi government made a U-turn on its controversial move to block petrol and diesel for older vehicles—diesel cars over 10 years and petrol ones over 15. India’s capital had stopped fuel sales to ageing vehicles to tackle the sprawling megacity’s hazardous air pollution, but on Thursday authorities said the ban was not practical. Two days of massive public backlash on social media and political pushback forced a U‑turn. New Delhi is regularly ranked as one of the most polluted capitals globally with vehicular emissions being one of the worst offenders, according to several studies. At the peak of the smog, levels of PM2.5 pollutants – dangerous cancer-causing microparticles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs – surge to more than 60 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily maximum. In this video, we cover: 1. What citizens feel about the move. 2. Reactions from the opposition and the environment minister. 3. What experts say about the ban. Join The Wire's Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, member-only emojis, live interaction with The Wire's founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChWtJey46brNr7qHQpN6KLQ/join