Opposition is growing within the State no sooner the government announced that it will be coming out with a policy to scrap old vehicles in line with similar policies by other States and cities most notably Delhi in tune with the central notification. The announcement has predictably triggered outrage in the State and is, more recently, seeing resolutions being passed in several local bodies, including the Margao Municipal Council, opposing the move.
While the government is yet to come out with the fine print of the policy, it hasn't specifically stated what the aims are, while it is understood that such policies are generally justified on the ground that they are good for the environment. This they say is because it helps hasten the process of phasing out old polluting vehicles from the streets and replacing them with newer, more efficient and cleaner vehicles.
However, what this thinking completely ignores is the amount of carbon it takes to manufacture a new car, which in many cases far outweighs the potential gains from having a new cleaner vehicle to drive around with. In other words, continuing to drive your old car is actually better for the environment than being forced to scrap your existing vehicle and replacing it with a new one. If you are switching to electric it might be even worse considering the amount of carbon involved in manufacturing a new electric car with the benefits evening themselves out only over a long period of time.
This isn't to suggest that there are no benefits to scrapping old cars. Taking the ageing cars off the street brings with it an improvement to the air quality for pedestrians and other street users. The policy could also prove to be a trigger for those who are looking to trade in their old car for a new one and help push them over the edge.
However, if the government really cares about the environment, what it should really be doing is promote the use of public transport, which is, by far, the best thing the State can do in terms of both environments and reducing the density of traffic which means lesser accidents and other allied problems.
Instead of forcing the citizenry to buy new cars and turn in the old it will push people through unnecessary hardship, a move that could increase the debt burden on households.
For now, though, given the reaction, the policy seems doomed as opposition to the policy will only increase going forward because it involves huge costs, and Goans may not be ready to throw in that kind of money.
It is imperative that the State government rethinks its policy from a holistic perspective and not blindly copy one that has been adopted from another State and try to shoehorn it into the Goa context. The State needs to keep the people's interests in mind and not the vehicle industry.
