Heavy vehicle makers told to switch to BS-IV

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority on Friday sought commitment from heavy vehicle manufacturers to shift their manufacturing line from outdated BS-III compliant vehicles to moderate BS-IV fuel type.

EPCA, the Supreme Court-appointed panel, also asked the transport departments of Delhi and the neighbouring states to apprise it of the status of Pollution Under Control (PUC) system that checks emission from on-road vehicles.

The EPCA would audit the PUCs soon, officials said.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a member of EPCA, earlier noted that India's PUC system is outdated and cannot deal with the "emission fraud" with the present system.

"During the meeting, Bajaj Automobiles said that it has shifted its entire production line for three- and two-wheelers from BS-III compliant to BS-IV. However, TATA Motors and Ashok Leyland were unable to give mandate on their stock," a member from the EPCA said.

BS-IV and III (Bharat Stage) are the fuel types based on vehicular emission standards fixed by the government, to regulate air pollution.

In 2016, the EPCA observed that switching to BS-IV fuel will help reduce air pollution by 80 per cent through reduction in particulate matter (PM) emissions, the major effluent in air.

Earlier, the EPCA and Union Ministries of Road Transport and Petroleum decided that from April 1, 2017, onwards BS-IV oil shall be made available throughout the nation and mulled over stopping registration of BS-III vehicles.

However, despite all the reminders, the EPCA has estimated that there will be about 75,000 commercial vehicles in stock and yet to be sold by April 1, 2017.

The huge stockpile of BS-III compliant vehicles would act as a roadblock in the government's pro-environment initiatives.

Bharat Stage emission standards are the emission standards instituted by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment which also includes motor vehicles.

--IANS

kd/pgh/vt