The Centre on Monday set the deadline of April 1, 2020, for auto manufacturers to roll out BS-VI (Euro 6) compliant engines after it informed the Supreme Court that Delhi’s air quality has not shown the desired results despite introduction of BS-VI fuel.
In an affidavit, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) said the best results of BS-VI fuel can be achieved only with BS-VI engines, not the present BS-IV engines.
The affidavit added, “Sale of BS-VI non-compliant vehicles should not be allowed after March 31, 2020.”
The Centre dumped an alternative suggestion of the SC to curb air pollution by making diesel dearer for private and passenger vehicles, calling it impractical. According to the MoPNG, only 13 per cent of diesel is consumed by private vehicles across the country. The remaining 87 per cent is used in other segments, of which agriculture sector constitutes a major chunk.
Hence, the Centre does not seem keen to have a higher price for diesel used by private vehicles as all diesel consumers procure the fuel from common retail outlets.
With the “differential pricing for diesel” proposal failing to get Centre’s nod, the Bench of Justices Madan B lokur and Deepak Gupta focused on fast-tracking production of BS-VI engines. It asked the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to suggest whether it will be in a position to stop the sale and manufacture of BS-IV compliant vehicles by March 31, 2020. This will include not just private vehicles but commercial vehicles as well.
Already the oil manufacturing companies have invested Rs 28,000 crore into production of the Euro 6 clean fuel. With its introduction, the Centre said the difference between the emission by diesel and petrol will be leveled. Presently, BS-IV diesel is seen to emit three times more NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) compared to BS-IV petrol.
The SIAM counsel informed the court that registration of vehicles manufactured up to March 31, 2020, should be extended till June 2020 as the manufacturers have been asked to advance production of BS-VI engines at a very short notice. But the SC questioned the counsel by pointing out that initially when the court suggested introduction of electric vehicles, the SIAM objected but later somersaulted and came forward with its production. The SC said the auto industry must consider the public good and not be driven by its own interests only.
The court even asked the Centre to consider introducing colour-coding for vehicles based on the fuel use. The SIAM said a hologram sticker giving various colour codes for electric vehicles, BS-VI fuel, diesel, hybrid fuel, is possible. Already the Centre has introduced green number plates for electric vehicles. However, the court asked the Centre to report by next Monday on the feasibility of introducing such stickers, cost involved in its production, and the authority to ensure its rollout. There are around 30 lakh private vehicles in Delhi, of which diesel-run vehicles remain a major cause of pollution.