New fuel emission norms for Mumbai affect fire fighting

The implementation of the stringent auto emission norms might be reducing pollutants’ level in the air but the norms have severely affected the fire-fighting exercise in Mumbai.

The Euro emission IV guidelines have restrained fire department from deploying new high-tech fire engines and apparatus.

Reason is that the chassis on which these imported vehicles are manufactured or laid are still not upgraded to the new norms. Since the fire department, for better fire protection, is importing high-tech fire equipment, these chassis become imperative.

“The chassis are the basic skeleton or frame on which these imported advanced vehicles are made. Since these do not comply with new norms, we are unable to upgrade the equipment,” said chief fire officer, Uday Tatkare.

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas along with the ministry for road transport and highways had laid down the auto fuel policy under which the upgraded emission norms were implemented in April.

Euro IV vehicular emission norms monitor the level of pollutants released from an automobile.

Companies like Tata, Ashok Leyland, Volvo, Mercedes Benz are still not ready with the chassis of the new norms. Despite issuing reminders to these companies, the manufacturing of these chassis will take a few more months.

“The chassis are expected to be ready by April 2011,” a senior official added.

Juggling to find its way out from these norms, 60% funds of the fire department, from the existing financial year, are lying unused, the official added.

The fire department has written to the central ministry for road transport and highways to allow them to use Euro emission-III fuel norms till the upgraded chassis are ready.

The city, between May and October, battled 1,237 blazes. Of these, 14 were major fires which collectively claimed one life and left 15 injured.