Bhubaneswar: In a move to protect the environment, the State Government has decided to scrap its vehicles, which have completed 15 years to its initial registration.
Commerce and Transport, Principal Secretary Usha Padhee has written a letter to all Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries to scarp all Government vehicles of more than 15 years of old in Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) Centers.
As per the amended Central Motor Vehicle Rules, the certificate of registration in respect of a motor vehicle owned by the State Government, ULBs, State Public Sector Undertakings/ Corporations established, owned or controlled by the State Government, will expire after the lapse of fifteen years from the date of initial registration of the vehicle.
Further, the certificate of registration of government vehicles, if already renewed, such certificate shall be treated as cancelled on completion of 15 years from the date of initial registration of the vehicle, Shrimati Padhee said in her letter.
In this regard, the Finance Department has issued an Office Memorandum recently, she said.
In order to facilitate scrapping of old vehicles, Odisha Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Policy, 2022 has been notified by the Transport Department.
Under the Policy guidelines, it has also been mandated that all Government Vehicles under different Government Departments, PSUs, organizations, autonomous councils, ULBs etc. above 15 years of age are to be mandatorily scrapped through a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF).
“It is therefore requested that all the above categories of vehicles of your Department, Heads of Departments, subordinate offices, PSUs, organizations, autonomous councils, ULBs etc. under your administrative control may be scrapped on or before 31 March, 2023 in the RVSF Centers established in the State,” the Principal Secretary told all Departments.
After scrapping, the Departments/offices will have to inform the concerned RTO for cancellation of registration of those vehicles.
Shrimati Padhee also asked the Departments to submit the final status of scrapping of vehicles to the Transport Department by March 31, 2023.
Sanjaya Kumar Biswal, Joint Commissioner Transport has been appointed as the Nodal Officer in this regard.
Meanwhile, in order to encourage vehicle owners to scrap their vehicles, the State Government has also exempted the arrear tax and penalties thereof, for a period of one year in respect of vehicles older than 15 years, wherein the owners are willing to scrap the same at RVSF Centre in Odisha.
This move was taken by the Government with an aim to reduce air pollution, improve road & vehicular safety, fuel efficiency & maintenance cost, to regularize the present system of informal and un-organized vehicle recycling facility & scientifically promoting recycling of vehicle scrap and above all, promoting circular economy, an official said.