Government comes out with draft norms for Euro-VI standards

Centre seeks suggestions or objections, if any, on the norms within a month

After having decided to move up directly to Euro VI emission norms for petrol and diesel from April 1, 2020, the government has come out with draft rules on emission standards for various categories of vehicles.

Specifying mass emission standards for Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) for various category vehicles including those with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg, manufactured on or after April 1, 2020 for all models, the government has sought suggestions or objections, if any, within a month.

"These rules may be called the Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2016. They shall come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette," the draft notification for emission standards has said.

The draft of certain rules aims at amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which the central government proposes to make in exercise with the powers conferred on it under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

"The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person with respect to the said draft rules before the expiry of the period aforesaid will be considered by the central government," the Road Transport and Highways Ministry has said.

The government in January has decided to leapfrog directly from Euro IV emission norms for petrol and diesel to Euro VI standards, and the oil PSUs will invest Rs 28,750 crore for the transition.

An inter-ministerial group headed by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on January 6 had taken the decision to advance the date by four years to April 1, 2020 for implementation of Bharat Stage VI (equivalent to Euro VI norms followed globally) for supply of cleaner auto fuel, by altogether skipping the Euro V grade norms.

Last week, Gadkari had said that Euro VI compliant fuel may be introduced in metros much ahead of the April 1, 2020 deadline, ensuring that Delhi is accorded topmost priority in the rollout plan.

The step would help curb vehicular pollution in the national capital and other metros, he had said.

The decision to advance Euro VI fuel roll out had came at a time when intense debate was going on rising level of pollution, while an innovative odd-even formula was being tried in the national capital to check vehicular pollution.

India currently has Bharat Stage-III, equivalent of Euro-III specifications, across the country and BS-IV in major cities. BS-IV will be supplied in most big cities by April 2016 and all over the country from April 2017.

BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, while BS-V and BS-VI grade fuel will have 10 ppm sulphur.