Automakers' body unhappy with proposed dos to curb pollution

A major auto-manufacturers' body today red-flagged a number of measures listed in a proposed mega plan to improve Delhi's air quality, which will soon be submitted to the Supreme Court.
In a meeting of the SC-appointed EPCA to review the plan, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) vehemently objected to the proposal that only BS-VI compliant vehicles be registered from April 2020.
A senior SIAM executive also asserted that any tax measures brought in to nullify incentives for purchasing diesel cars over the petrol ones, as the plan proposes, should not involve consumers.
"We are all for the differential pricing to be corrected. But we don't want the tax to be recovered from the user-industry of the fuel. If you equalize the price of diesel and petrol we have no problem. There should be parity. The government should equalize the taxation on fuel," SIAM said.

The industry body, already at loggerheads with the EPCA over the ban on registration of BS-III vehicles from tomorrow, said BS-VI would be a major leapfrog and suggested that more time should be given before banning registration of non BS-VI vehicles.
"If this happens (ban on non BS-VI vehicles registration from April 2020) you are reducing the time given to us from three years to two which will not be possible for us. This needs a lot of discussion it cannot be done like this. We need far deeper understanding," the official said.

The Centre has already announced that India would leapfrog to BS-VI from April 2020. However, it has not cleared its stand on whether registration of non BS-VI will also be banned together with it.

But the EPCA stood its ground and said the recent SC order, that upheld the ban on both manufacture and registration of non BS-IV vehicles from April 1, has "set a precedent" and there should not be any further confusion.
The SIAM also called for the formation of an experts' body to study the role of CNG after BS-VI norms are effected in 2020 suggesting that the natural gas variant may contain particulate matter PM1.
An EPCA member, however, said diesel continues to be a major problem and pointed to the bungle involving a major car manufacturer which was found using diesel engines equipped with a defeat device to help cheat emission tests.

"We are with the most eco-friendly fuel and not for any particular variety. We are not extended arm of the government. We have our independent opinion. We are given a task by the court and we have to go and report to them," EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal said.