JOIN USGovt advances 4-wheeler-emission norms date
Alarmed over the rising air pollution, the Centre on Saturday advanced the date for implementing higher level of emission norms for four wheelers by three years.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a draft notification to roll out the (Bharat Standard) BS-V from April 1, 2019 and BS-VI norms from April 1, 2021 for the automobile sector, covering the four wheeler category.
Reduce harm
“The decision to advance the date for implementation of the higher level emission standards would help in reducing the harmful effects of emissions on environment and climate change,” an official statement said.
As per the previous roadmap mandated by the Auto Fuel Policy, BS –V norms were to be implemented from April 1, 2022 and BS-VI from April 1, 2024.
Expressing “a firm commitment to play a major role in reducing vehicular emissions,” the government said it is keen that the road transport sector should take a lead role in reducing the harmful effects of emissions on environment and climate change.
Two-and three-wheelers
The move would help at substantial reduction in NOx/4C (nitrogen) levels, it said, adding draft norms for two and three wheeler categories will be notified shortly with advanced timelines similar to the four wheeler category.
Notably, the Centre had earlier in January told the Supreme Court it was not feasible to prepone the applicability of Bharat stage IV (Euro IV) norms for vehicles across the country from its current schedule of April 1, 2017.
The apex court had in October ordered imposition of Rs 700 to Rs 1300 “environment compensation charge” on commercial vehicles entering Delhi in order to check growing air pollution in the national capital.