Govt advances rollout of emission norms for four-wheelers by 3 yrs

Girja Shankar Kaura

Tibune News Service

New Delhi, November 28

The government today advanced by three years the date for implementation of Bharat Stage (BS)-V and BS-VI norms for the automobile sector, covering four-wheelers.

“The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has issued a draft notification for implementation of BS-V and BS-VI norms for the automobile sector, covering four wheelers. The ministry has decided to advance date for implementation of the higher level emission standards,” an official statement said.

According to the roadmap laid by the Auto Fuel Policy earlier, BS-V norms were to be implemented from April 1, 2022 and BS-VI from April 1, 2024, it added.

“However, the Minister of Road Transport & Highways is keen that the road transport sector should take a lead role in reducing the harmful effects of emissions on environment and climate change. BS-V norms will now be implemented from April 1, 2019. BS-VI norms, which aim at substantial reduction in NOx/4C level, will be implemented from April 1, 2021,” the statement said.

It added that the draft norms for two and three-wheelers would be notified shortly with advanced timeline similar to the four-wheelers.

Earlier, there were suggestions that India should jump to BS-VI norms directly from the present BS-IV. But it has now been decided that shifting from BS-IV to BS-V can be done in a sequential manner as jumping to BS-VI requires different technology.

India is still far behind China and Europe in adopting higher emission norms.

Only north-Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and Western UP get BS-IV grade petrol and diesel. The rest of the country is still on BS-III grade fuel.

BS-IV will be implemented in Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Daman and Diu, Dadra-Nagar-Haveli and Andaman & Nicobar by April 1, 2016, and the rest of the country by April 1, 2017.