National
Panel submits report on emission norms
By Sushma Ramachandran
NEW DELHI, JAN. 1. The Cabinet is expected to take a decision on the road-map for more rigorous vehicle-emission standards and fiscal concessions for the petroleum and the automobile sectors.
The new guidelines are proposed to be based on the recommendations made by the expert committee on auto fuel policy, headed by the Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Dr. R.A. Mashelkar.
The interim report, which was submitted to the Petroleum Ministry today, suggests that the Euro-II vehicular emission norms be introduced throughout the country by April 2005. It also urges the Government to refrain from specifying a single fuel or vehicle type to check pollution.
To meet air quality targets, the Government should prescribe only the vehicular emission norms and matching fuel specifications, leaving the choice of vehicle type and fuel to the user-public, says the report.
Addressing a press conference, Dr. Mashelkar said an investment of Rs. 35,000 crores would be needed to upgrade refineries to produce Euro-III auto fuels - petrol and diesel - by 2005. In addition, another Rs. 25,000 crores investment would be needed to upgrade facilities in the automobile industry to meet the new emission norms.
Though the final report would be submitted only in March, senior Petroleum Ministry officials said that the major recommendations of the interim report would be taken to the Cabinet for approval by the month-end.
The report proposes that Bharat Stage II emission (Euro-II) norms, which are currently in place in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, be introduced in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad by the end of 2003. These should be further extended to the entire country by April 1, 2005.
As for Euro-III equivalent emission norms for all categories of vehicles (excluding two and three wheelers), the committee suggests these norms be introduced in seven mega cities from April 1, 2004 and extended to other parts of the country from 2010.
In view of the huge investments needed for conversion to these norms, the committee has proposed preferential treatment to the oil and the auto industries in several areas. This includes customs duty on imported capital goods, equipment and machinery needed for upgrading technology and facilities as well as excise duty on indigenously-manufactured capital goods and machinery needed for this process.
It has also sought 100 per cent depreciation on plant and machinery put up for upgradation, soft loans for technology modernisation projects and ``adequate incentives'' such as tariff differentials to enable domestic industry to compete with imports.
Dr. Mashelkar pointed out that in the first phase itself - for Bharat Stage II - oil refineries would have to spend Rs. 17,000 crores in the technology-upgradation process. He also highlighted the importance of a ``holistic'' approach to the entire issue, as emission-efficient new vehicles and compartible fuels alone would not be able to meet the desired air quality targets.
The report has recommended other attendant measures such as comprehensive inspection and certification system for in- use vehicles, surveillance and checking emission warranty systems, better traffic management and construction of by-passes around major cities are essential to attain air quality targets.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
National
|
