AUTO
FUEL POLICY REPORT PLACED ON PETROLEUM MINISTRY’S WEBSITE
In accordance with
the decision taken by the Government , the final report of the
Expert Committee on Auto Fuel Policy is now available on the website
of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (www.petroleum.nic.in)
from 1.10.2002. This has been done to facilitate general public,
stakeholders etc. to make their suggestions on the recommendations
of the Committee for formulating a vibrant Auto Fuel Policy for
the country. It may be pointed out that the suggestions/responses
by all concerned should be made by 31.10.2002.
The Auto Fuel Policy
suggested by the Expert Committee headed by Dr.R.A.Mashelkar includes
recommendations on the auto fuel quality, vehicular emission norms
and related issues for the country as a whole. The report gives
two separate road maps upto the year 2010, one for vehicular emission
norms for new vehicles and second for measures to be taken for
reducing pollution from in-use vehicles. The Committee has identified
cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad, Pune, Kanpur, Surat and Agra on the basis of vehicular
population and the observed pollution levels as the cities where
the next stage of vehicular emission norms should be introduced
ahead of the rest of the country. It has also recommneded progressive
upgradation of the liquid auto fuels to meet the proposed vehicular
emission norms. In addition liquid auto fuels, gaseous fuels (CNG/LPG)
should be supplied on sustainable basis in the cities where vehicle
population is high and the vehicular norms are required to meet
tighter emission norms.
The other main recommendations
include expansion and augmentation of air quality monitoring network,
undertaking surveys and studies for source of pollution, creating
data base linking air pollution and vehicular emission to diseases,
taking measures to check adulteration in liquid auto fuels. It
also suggests strengthening existing PUC system, inspection and
maintenance of in-use vehicles, encouraging R&D for alternative
fuels such as battery powered vehicles, use of ethanol and bio-diesel,
construction of bypasses in metropolitan cities, setting of a
national level authority for enforcement of vehicular emission
norms and fuel standards, providing fiscal concessions to oil
and the auto industry for upgradation of quality and technology
etc.
The road map for
new vehicles (except 2 and 3 wheelers)suggests compliance of Bharat
Stage II emission norms in the entire country from 1.4.2005 and
Euro III equivalent norms by 1.4.2010. In addition to 4 metros
where Bharat Stage II norms are already in place, Bangalore, Hyderabad,
Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur and Agra should also meet this
norm from1.4.2003. The four metros and the other seven cities
should comply Euro III and Euro IV equivalent emission norms from
1.4.2005 and 1.4.2010 respectively. The 2 and 3 wheelers should
conform to Bharat Stage II norms from 1.4.2005 all over the country
and Bharat Stage III norms preferably from 1.4.2008 but not later
than 2010. For new vehicles a separate road map has been recommended
by the committe.
