China to scrap over 50 lakh cars to curb pollution

China plans to implement a decision to take more than 50 lakh aging vehicles off the roads by the end of 2014 in a bid to improve air quality in places like Beijing and Shanghai. In Beijing alone,  anestimated 3.3 lakh vehicles are set to be scrapped according to a policy that has been announced by the Chinese government on May 26.

This extreme step to cut down on emissions has resulted due to China falling behind on its targets to cut pollution in the 2011-2013 periods. According to Beijing's environmental watchdog, vehicle emissions in Beijing were responsible for about 31 percent of the hazardous airborne particulates with a comparative 22 percent originating from coal burning.

Although the official government document did not say how the plan would be implemented, Beijing's municipal government previously offered subsidies ranging from 2,500 to 14,500 yuan (Rs 0.23-1.35 lakh) to drivers who voluntarily hand in older vehicles to be scrapped. Apart from the 3.3 lakh vehicles that will be removed from Beijing, an additional 6.6 lakh will be removed from the adjoining areas of Heibei, which is the home of the seven smoggiest cities in China.

Although Beijing currently forbids vehicles that do not meet required standards from entering the city, city officials in Beijing have admitted that most police and government departments in China currently lacks the monitoring and policing capability to ensure all cars make the allowed grade. Officials have also complained on how certain drivers have found ways to avoid detection altogether and use older, highly polluting cars in the city.

In India, although the government has recently taken steps to curb down on polluting vehicles, especially in the commercial sector, there is still a substantial gap between policy existence and implementation. While a government cannot force people to give up their older cars and move to a more modern car, the mandatory five-year fitness certification process can certainly be made stringent as compared to the one present today.