Suitable fuel unavailability may delay BS-V, VI norms by a yr

Government is likely to delay roll out of BS-V and VI emission norms by a year to 2020 and 2022, respectively, on account of unavailability of suitable fuel despite rising concerns over pollution levels in the national capital.
The Road Transport and Highways Ministry is expected to take a call tomorrow on the timeline for adoption of stricter emission standards.
"The proposal is to implement BS-V norms for four-wheelers from 2020 and BS-VI norms from 2022," a senior Road Transport and Highways Ministry official told PTI.
A final call is likely to be taken tomorrow, the official said.
In November, a draft notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoEF), had advanced dates for implementation of BS-V norms to April 1, 2019 and BS-VI norms to April 1, 2021.

A meeting of an inter-ministerial group, including representatives of Ministries of Road Transport and Highways, Petroleum, Heavy Industries and Environment and Forests, held today could not come to a consensus. Road Transport and Highways Secretary Vijay Chhibber chaired the meeting.

According to sources, the road transport and highways ministry was of the view that the roll out of BS-V norms must start from 2019 but Petroleum Ministry expressed inability to comply with the deadline.
"The Petroleum Ministry officials said they would be in a position to supply BS-V compliant fuel only by 2022," a source said.
They will be able to supply lower rated fuel, that is with Octane 91, in comparison to Octane 95 in Europe, the source added.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries wanted BS-V norms to be implemented by 2020, they added.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) suggested that BS-V norms should be skipped and and a "lenient timeline" should be given to implement BS-VI norms, they added.
However, automobile industry body SIAM has been opposing skipping of BS-V and jumping to BS-VI, saying it is not technically feasible.
According to the roadmap earlier laid down by the Auto Fuel Policy, BS-V norms were to implemented from April 1, 2022 and BS-VI from April 1, 2024 but the Highways Ministry has advanced it by three years in a draft notification.