MASHELKAR COMMITTEE REPORT

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The Mashelkar Committee, in its interim report has made the following recommendations regarding Euro II and Euro III norms for motor vehicles:

1. Bharat Stage II norms which are equivalent to Euro II norms and have already been extended to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, should be extended to three mega cities of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad also before end of 2003 and in the entire country from 1^st April, 2005.
2. Euro III equivalent norms for all categories of vehicles (excluding two and three wheelers) should be introduced in seven mega cities (i.e. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad) from 1^st April, 2005 and to other parts of country from 2010.

The process of evolving the testing norms and procedures for Euro III equivalent specifications is already in hand. The availability of corresponding fuel would be a necessary concomitant requirement. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has advised the oil companies to upgrade petrol and diesel quality to match Bharat Stage II and Euro III equivalent emission norms.

This information was given in the Lok Sabha today in a written reply by the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways (Independent Charge), Major General (Retd.) B.C.Khanduri, AVSM.