BS-VI norms to be introduced next April in Delhi, 2 years ahead of schedule

The Petroleum Ministry will introduce Bharat Stage VI norms (Euro-VI emission norm) next year to curb pollution in the national capital, Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Wednesday.

"Taking into account the serious pollution levels in Delhi and adjoining areas, Petroleum Ministry in consultation with public sector oil marketing companies has decided for preponement of BS-VI grade auto fuels in national capital territory of Delhi with effect from April 1, 2018 instead of April 1, 2020," the Petroleum Ministry said in a statement.

The next big switch, which come in April 2020, is when vehicles sold in Delhi need to be BS-VI compliant to be eligible for registration.

Since introduction of cleaner fuel in Delhi alone can't end the national capital's woes, the Petroleum Ministry has asked oil manufacturing companies (OMCs) to explore the possibility of introducing BS-VI fuels in all of NCR - which includes areas of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh - by April 1, 2019.

Happy to share that Government has decided to prepone the introduction of BS-VI grade Fuel in NCT of Delhi w.e.f. 1st April 2018 in place of 1st April 2020 as a sincere effort to curb the vehicular pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas.- Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) November 15, 2017

Introduced in 2000, Bharat Stage norms are emission standards set up the Centre to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment. The norms are enforced in accordance with the timeline and standards set up by the Central Pollution Control Board, which comes under the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change

The higher the fuel standard a vehicle complies with, the less polluting it is.

Euro-VI grade fuel contains 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur. Euro-IV fuels contain 50 ppm.

As well, particulate matter emission for diesel cars and nitrogen oxide levels are way lower in BS-VI norms.

Implementation of the BS-V standard was earlier scheduled for 2019. This has now been skipped.

BS VI, originally proposed to come in by 2024, was first advanced to 2020. Now, the deadline is April 1, 2018.

BOTH GOOD AND BAD NEWS

There's good news in the short-term. Vehicle owners who now drive BS-IV-compliant vehicles can shift to BS-VI fuels without changing their engines, or making any new investments.

But eventually, a rule that requires vehicles to be BS-VI fuel-compliant will kick in. Then, buyers will have to shell out Rs 15,000-Rs 30,000 more than they do now.

COST OF INVESTMENT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO CONSUMER?

Oil manufacturing companies are making large investments for the switch from BS-IV to BS-VI.

The petroleum ministry hasn't yet said whether the cost of investment will be transferred to the consumer in form of a fuel price hike.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF EMISSION STANDARDS

When the government began discussions on the possibility of a leapfrog in emission norms, automobile companies were reluctant. They said a speedy switch to BS-VI norm vehicles - with a change in technology - would need time and investment.

But Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari put his foot down. He said car-makers must follow the same standards in India that they do elsewhere.

"I do not agree with auto-manufacturer associations. When the same car manufacturers can build cars following the same norms across the globe, then why can't they build it here? The government is not reconsidering its decision," he said.

The switch isn't going to be easy. In April 2010, the existing BS-IV norms were introduced in 13 cities excluding the NCR. And it has taken seven years for the whole country to get fuel with the same emission levels.

April 1, 2017 was the deadline for the complete nationwide switch to BS-IV.

The automobile industry challenged the "mandatory switch" clause in court, claiming that the order meant that only BS-IV vehicles could be manufactured from the said date, while sales of BS-III stocks may continue.

In September 2016, the EPCA (Environment Pollution Control Authority) issued a warning that the order was explicit - that manufacturing of BS-III compliant vehicles (sales and registration included) had to end completely before the deadline.

And when the EPCA put its foot down, auto-makers announced discounts and offers to clear BS-III stocks.

Since the court's order in 2014 endorsed two deadlines (April 1, 2016 for BS-IV compliant new models and April 1,2017 for existing models), auto companies earned time.

But the next stage will be different. Manufacturing, sales and registration of BS-IV vehicles may not be permitted after March 31, 2020.

To begin switching car, bike truck and other auto models to BS-VI, the industry will need to begin introducing them in the months preceding the deadline. This means auto makers need a clear timeline - especially from oil companies - on BS-VI fuel availability across the country.

KEJRIWAL MEETS KHATTAR; AMARINDER REFUSES TO MEET DELHI CM

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar in Chandigarh today to discuss ways to check stubble burning and vehicular pollution.

At a joint press conference, Kejriwal said he and Khattar had "a very positive discussion," and that they would "take all steps possible to tackle the situation."

Khattar said Haryana would work to ensure that air quality levels in the capital improved, and noted that satellite data showed stubble burning had "significantly reduced" in his state.

However, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh refused to meet Kejriwal. He asked the Delhi CM to refrain from "trying to politicise" a serious issue.

The matter needed the Centre's intervention, he said.

(Inputs from PTI)

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