Sc Order On Use Of Catalytic Converters

The Supreme Court yesterday asked the government to examine within four weeks the proposal to fit catalytic converters in heavy diesel vehicles for its use in reducing sulphur emission levels, even as the automobile industry has opposed the idea.

A petition filed by environment lawyer M C Mehta said the sulphur content emitted by these heavy vehicles is 0.25. He said it should be brought down further by advanced technology.

The Justice Saikia committee appointed by the court had recommended the use of catalytic converters in smaller vehicles and this recommendation was implemented a few years ago with regard to newly manufactured vehicles used in the metros. In the second leg of the programme, the court wanted the government to use the technology in heavy vehicles also.

The committee which studied this plan was not unanimous, as the Automobile Association of India had opposed the plan.

The dissenting expert told the court yesterday that the idea would not be feasible as the pollution caused by the proposed technology would be more dangerous.

The division bench consisting of Chief Justice A M Ahmadi, Justice S C Sen and Justice Sujata Manohar in a brief order asked Additional Solicitor General V R Reddy to examine whether it was feasible to fit converters in the existing vehicles as well as in those that would be manufactured.

Earlier, the court had dealt with three-wheelers, which were the worst polluters in the metros. The court had allowed the import of equipment to use propane fuel in these vehicles on an experimental basis. Canadian firm G&T Worldwide has been associated with this experiment, mainly conducted on government vehicles.