BUSINESS
A Road Ministry statement said it would soon issue a notification to move to BS VI, while withdrawing its earlier notification of November to advance dates for implementation of BS-V norms to April 1, 2019 and BS-VI norms to April 1, 2021.
In a major step to curb vehicular pollution, India will leapfrog directly from Euro IV emission norms for petrol and diesel to Euro VI standards and the oil PSUs will invest Rs 28,750 crore for the transition.
A decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday to advance the date by four years to April 1, 2020 for implementation of Bharat Stage VI (equivalent to Euro VI norms followed globally) for supply of cleaner auto fuel, by altogether skipping the Euro V grade norms.
At the meeting Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar sorted out issues over the implementation schedule. The decision has been taken at a time when an intense debate is going on rising level of pollution, while an innovative odd-even formula is being tried in the National Capital to check vehicular pollution.
India currently has Bharat Stage-III, equivalent of Euro-III specifications, across the country and BS-IV in major cities. BS-IV will be supplied in most big cities by April 2016 and all over the country from April 2017.
While Auto Fuel Policy had recommended implementation of BS-VI norms by 2024, Pradhan in October 2015 stated that his ministry will go straight from BS-IV to BS-VI by 2020 as there was not much difference in specifications of Euro-V and Euro-VI fuel.
However, the Transport Ministry in a draft notification in November put the date for supply of BS-VI fuel at April 1, 2021.
"Government has decided to leapfrog from BS-IV to BS-VI directly by April 1, 2020. We have decided to skip BS V emission norms. It is a bold decision and a commitment to environment," Gadkari told PTI after the meeting.
All the other ministries have assured cooperation to make the implementation successful, he added.
Pradhan said oil PSUs will invest about Rs 28,750 crore for switching over to BS-VI auto fuels. "To discuss details of fuel specifications and other relevant issues of BS-VI auto fuels, a group of concerned secretaries will be formed which will give its report within two weeks."
BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, while BS-V and BS-VI grade fuel will have 10 ppm sulphur. "I appeal to automobile manufacturers to cooperate in this in the larger interest of the country," Gadkari said.
Automobile industry body SIAM, which has been opposing the skipping of BS V to jump to BS VI, said it would comment only after seeing the notification.
A Road Ministry statement said it would soon issue a notification to move to BS VI, while withdrawing its earlier notification of November to advance dates for implementation of BS-V norms to April 1, 2019 and BS-VI norms to April 1, 2021.
"The Ministry is also sure that the Indian Automobile industry with its technical competence and commitment to environment will rise to the occasion and support the decision," it said.
Currently, BS-IV auto fuels are being supplied in whole of northern India covering J&K, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and western UP. The rest of the country has BS-III grade fuel.
From April 1, 2016, all of Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Union Territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Andaman & Nicobar will get BS-IV fuel. The rest of the country will get supplies of BS-IV fuel from April 1, 2017.
"Keeping in view the environmental impact, rising pollution levels and consequent health hazards due to vehicular pollution, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas is of the view that the country should switch over directly from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards," Pradhan said.
The development comes at a time when air pollution, especially in the Capital, has become a major issue. While Delhi is currently observing odd-even scheme, Supreme Court has cracked down on diesel vehicles by banning registration of diesel cars and SUVs with engines above 2,000 cc.
Delhi residents defy firecracker ban, illuminate night sky with Diwali celebrations
'Since I've retired...': Rohit Sharma reacts after Mumbai Indians retain him for IPL 2025
Diwali 2024: How to get rid of acidity, bloating, constipation post Diwali binge?
IND vs NZ, 3rd Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs New Zealand match
IPL 2025: What is the remaining purse and RTM cards for all teams ahead of mega-auction?
Meet Indian man who secured job at Elon Musk's Tesla after sending...
'Isse zyada sundar...': Viral video captures aerial view of Diwali celebrations in Noida, WATCH
THIS company got richer by Rs 29878 crore on Diwali day due to...
Delhi's air quality deteriorates to 'very poor' category, likely to worsen after festival
IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant released by Delhi Capitals, CSK retains MS Dhoni as...
Meet woman, who quit NCPI as COO, now set to lead India's largest...
Viral: Businessman gifts Rs 1 crore Rolex watch to contractor for his...
Post-Diwali hangover? 5 easy tips to detox the liver
Pushpa 2: Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna share film's NEW poster to wish fans on Diwali
Gautam Adani's companies set to supply 6500 MW of power to THIS state
WTC 2023-25 points table update after South Africa clean sweep Bangladesh 2-0 in Test series
Meet woman, college dropout who earns Rs 1494000 monthly, works just 4 hours a day, she is...
Why KL Rahul decided to part ways with Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025 retention deadline?
Sebi issues Rs 154 crore demand notices to Anil Ambani's companies, asks them to pay within...
IND vs NZ: Jasprit Bumrah to miss third India vs New Zealand Test? Report says star pacer is....
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Why it happens in winter?
New Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem open to truce with Israel, says, 'we accept but…’
BSNL continues to rise, deploys over 50000 4G sites with Tata Group company in India's most...
'Either this or nothing': Elderly couple dances at Mohit Chauhan's concert, WATCH viral video
'That's so cheap': Sana Makbul CRITICISES pap after he tells her 'mazze nahi aa rahe' in viral video
Indian, Chinese troops at LAC exchange Diwali sweets after border disengagement
Dawood Ibrahim was fan of this superstar, invited him for tea, confessed a murder to him, then…
NEET entrance 2025 exam to happen online? Here's what high-level panel suggests
Jadeja to enter IPL auction? CSK eying THIS star player as MS Dhoni's successor
Ratan Tata once surprised his dog trainer at Bombay VT: 'You hold the pup, I’ll take...'
Woman finds bundle of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes during Diwali cleaning, netizens call it...
IPL 2025: List of players set be retained on deadline day, CSK, RCB, MI will retain...
Kartik Aaryan says his film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 doesn't need cameos: 'Hume humaari...'
Meet man, who secured AIR 2644 in JEE, did B.Tech from IIT Kanpur, has now started doing...
Noida: Stunning drone footage captures Diwali celebrations, watch viral video
Is stock market open or closed on Diwali? Know details here
Don’t Move on Netflix movie review: Psychological thriller with enjoyable moments
Cricketer Ben Stokes' house burgled by masked robbers, England captain shares harrowing details
Diwali delights: Bengaluru man surprises mom with Apple iPhone 15, viral video wins internet, watch
'Divine festival of lights...' PM Narendra Modi extend his wishes on festival Diwali
Diwali 2024: Dos and don'ts, subh muhurat, rituals and more
Delhi pollution: National capital's air quality dips to 'very poor' on Diwali, AQI hits...
Varun Dhawan finally reveals daughter’s name on Amitabh Bachchan’s KBC 16: ‘We named her…’
Elon Musk is hiring Hindi tutors for his firm xAI, offering pay up to Rs...
When Abhishek Bachchan broke his silence on divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai: ‘Will you let me…”
Triupati Laddo row: Andhra Pradesh govt appoints BR Naidu as new chairman of Tirupati temple board
Meet man who left his IT job to build Indian brand, competes with Domino's, Pizza Hut, he is...
Diwali 2024: Know puja vidhi, shubh muhurat, significance, rituals and more
Meet man, whose father is a taxi driver, clears UPSC with AIR...