SMT. SUMITRA MAHAJAN PLACES NATIONAL
AUTO FUEL POLICY IN THE LOK SABHA
Smt Sumitra Mahajan,
Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, laid the National
Auto Fuel Policy on the Table of the Lok Sabha today. The policy
provides a clear cut road map for changes in vehicular technology
and corresponding fuel quality for the whole country. Measures
are also proposed to reduce emissions from in-use vehicles. It
is expected that the implementation of the policy would lead to
better ambient air quality which will reflect through improvement
in public health and better environment.
The salient features
of the National Auto Fuel Policy include compliance of Bharat
Stage-II norms by all new vehicles (other than 2/3 wheelers) from
1.4.2005 in the whole country and Euro-III equivalent norms in
the whole country from 1.4.2010. In 11 major cities which include
Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad,
Pune, Surat, Kanpur and Agra the new vehicles would meet Euro-III
equivalent norms from 1.4.2005 and Euro-IV norms from 1.4.2010.
New 2/3 wheelers would be required to meet Bharat Stage-II norms
from 1.4.2005 and Bharat Stage-III norms preferably from 1.4.2008
but not later than 1.4.2010. In respect of in-use vehicles, the
policy suggests new improved Pollution Under Control (PUC) checking
system, inspection and maintenance system, checking system for
catalytic converter and conversion kits for CNG/LPG vehicles.
Another significant
feature of the policy include a road map for compliance of emission
norms by buses/trucks plying on Inter-State routes passing through
Delhi and 10 other major cities mentioned above which have high
level of environmental pollution. Inter-State buses/trucks would
not be allowed to originate or terminate in Delhi from 1.4.2007
unless they meet India 2000 emission norms and the cut-off point
for Bharat Stage-II norms will be 1.4.2011. Emission norms for
Inter-State buses originating or culminating in 10 other major
cities will have to meet a minimum of 1996 norms w.e.f. 1.4.2006,
if registered before 1.4.2000 and India 2000 norms, if registered
after 1.4.2000. For Inter-State buses registered after 1.4.2005
in these cities will have to meet at least Bharat Stage-II norms
w.e.f. 1.4.2011.
It is estimated that
the existing domestic oil refineries, in addition to the investment
of Rs. 10,000 crore already made to achieve Euro-I/Bharat Stage-II
auto fuel specifications, would need to incur an additional investment
of around Rs. 18,000 crore by the year 2005. Further investment
of around Rs. 12,000 crore will need to be made during the period
2005-2010. The investment requirement of the automobile industry
is estimated at around Rs. 25,000 crore over this period.
The Policy suggests,
taking into account security of supplies and existing logistics
perspectives, that liquid fuels should remain as main auto fuels
throughout the country. The policy recommends encouraging use
of CNG/LPG in cities affected by higher pollution levels so as
to enable vehicle owners to have the choice of the fuel and technology
combination.
To accelerate development
of other alternative clean technologies like battery-powered vehicles,
hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles, etc., Auto Fuel Policy suggests
that a comprehensive support programme should be drawn up. Technologies
for producing ethanol/bio fuels and vehicles to use these fuels
would be encouraged through R & D and other fiscal and financial
measures. The policy also recommends scientific studies for collection
of sufficient air quality data for the whole country and to apportion
the health disorders attributable to air pollution/vehicular pollution.
The policy has been
formulated taking a holistic view of the diverse aspects of auto
emissions, auto technologies and auto fuel quality on the one
hand and the social costs and security of fuel supply on the other.
A Committee of Experts of national repute headed by Dr. R.A. Mashelkar,
Director General, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
(CSIR), was set up to recommend an appropriate Auto Fuel Policy
for the country.
