India, Aug. 9 -- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has acknowledged that it has not conducted any independent study or research on the pollution levels caused by so-called End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) vehicles -- diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol ones older than 15 years -- that have been banned in Delhi-NCR.

In response to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by environmental activist Amit Gupta, CAQM stated it had not undertaken any such analysis.

To be sure, the body clarified that its policy was based on judicial directions, including the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) ruling in Vardhman Kaushik vs Union of India and the Supreme Court's order in MC Mehta vs Union of India.

The ban on ELVs applies irr...