NEW DELHI: On the pretext of curbing pollution in Delhi, the Delhi government has announced a ban on the entry of medium and heavy vehicles in Delhi from October 1 to February 28, 2023 which has caused great anxiety and concerns among traders of Delhi which has made them worried about their future business particularly during the five months long period of restrictions.
Depicting the anger of Delhi traders, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) today convened a meeting of leading trade ‘associations from all parts of Delhi which was attended by about 200 prominent trade leaders.
Leaders of All India Transport Welfare Association and Delhi Transport Association also attended the meeting. It was emphasized in the meeting that if the government does not take back this order, then the traders of Delhi will have no other alternative but to move to the neighboring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for which Delhi Government will be responsible CAIT will undertake an intensive study to bring real truth of adversity of this order on trade through a White Paper
It was unanimously decided in the meeting that an intensive campaign would be launched against this order across Delhi under the flag of a Action Committee to be headed by CAIT Delhi State President Vipin Ahuja. This campaign will run across Delhi from July 10 under which more than 200 meetings and rallies of traders will be organized in all the markets of Delhi to demand Delhi government to withdraw this order which amounts to snatch sovereignty of traders.
The resolution further said that pollution is definitely a big problem and steps should be taken to stop it, but it is very important to ensure that such steps should not harm the business. For environmental protection, the traders also affirmed to plant 1 crore trees in Delhi and cooperation will be sought from the Central Government, Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi whereas on forthcoming Raksha Bandhan, traders across Delhi will organise Vriksha Mitra Movement for tying Rakhi to trees in a big way and a pledge to protect the environment will be taken by traders.
The delegation of CAT will meet Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinay Saxena, Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal on this issue and urge the withdrawal of this order.
In another unanimous resolution passed in the meeting, it was said that this decision of the Delhi government will have a very adverse effect on the future business activities of the trade and transport sector of Delhi and especially the business of Delhi in the five months from October 1 to February 28, 2023.
The trade will be badly destroyed as the supply chain will come to a complete halt due to non-entry of trucks in Delhi as they run on diesel.If the trucks do not enter within the limits of Delhi, then transportation of goods will be in peril which will cause mass destruction in trade of Delhi.
Trade leaders also said in the meeting that this decision of the Delhi Government is against the basic principle of One Nation One Law and also against the concept of free movement of all goods across the country. Except Delhi, there is no such order in any state of the country.
They also said that if the pollution is actually caused by diesel, then why is there no ban on the manufacture of diesel vehicles in the country! This law of the Delhi government will lead the business of Delhi towards destruction because if the traders of Delhi are not able to provide the goods in the trade happening between the traders, then their customer will take the goods from the traders of some other state resulting into mass migration of business from Delhi to other States