Siam asks for clarity on emission norms

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) today said implementation of new emission norms scheduled to be effective from April 1, 2010, should be postponed by up to six months if there is no clarity on availability of upgraded fuels, by January-end.

“There is serious concern that fuels may not be available in all parts of the country to implement the new emission norms,” Siam President Pawan Goenka told reporters at the 10th Auto Expo.

“Siam has already made representations to the government that if fuel is not available, then the implementation of new emission norms should be postponed by three-to-six months in those regions where fuel is not available or across the country,” he added. Starting April this year, 11 cities across India, where the Bharat Stage (BS) III norms are in place, are supposed to upgrade to BS-IV and the rest of the country, where BS-II norms are followed, are to move towards BS-III norms. “After January 31, it will be difficult for us to revert, although it is not impossible,” he said, while not elaborating what additional costs the industry would bear if it has to go back to the old norms.

The industry is ready to meet the new emission norms deadline and many companies have already started putting tooling for the purpose, Goenka said. He said earlier Siam had asked the government to give a clear picture by December 31, 2009.