Shillong, May 1 (Reporter) The Meghalaya Cabinet on Thursday decided to introduce a vehicle scrappage policy, which will see over 13,000 outdated vehicles off the roads. Tourism Minister and Government Spokesperson, Paul Lyngdoh said the scrappage policy is expected to address a major contributor to local air pollution—aging and inefficient vehicles. He said the policy targets vehicles that are no longer roadworthy and contribute significantly to pollution. “A total of around 13,000 vehicles will be decommissioned under this new initiative—5,000 of which are government-owned, and approximately 8,000 are privately owned,” he said. “The primary goals of the policy include curbing vehicular emissions, lowering dependence on fuel imports, and promoting the recycling of automotive materials to reduce the strain on natural resources. This is not just an environmental initiative; it’s also an economic and resource-conscious policy,” Lyngdoh explained. As of date, the state capital Shillong has an estimated 2,76,262 registered vehicles, followed by Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills and Jowai, the district headquarters of West Jaintia Hills. Recognising the economic realities of the state, Lyngdoh emphasized a phased approach. The first phase will target government vehicles older than 15 years. “We will first start with government-owned vehicles, around 5,000 of which meet the criteria for scrapping,” he stated. For private vehicles, Lyngdoh said the government has decided to start by decommissioning only those that are 35 years or older, amounting to about 8,000 vehicles...////...