Govt. tightens vehicle emission norms

Wonder of what use all this is, since in no aspect of life in India is enforcement ever done. Besides the worst offenders are the BMTC public buses, autorickshaws who are all backed up well-connected interest groups to ensure they will not have to comply with whatever norms come into force.

Govt. tightens vehicle emission norms

By Govind D. Belgaumkar, The Hindu

BANGALORE, SEPT. 14. Vehicles users will have to obtain new exhaust emission certificates on October 1 when new norms take effect all over the country.

Even as the Centre has directed the States to take measures to implement the new norms, sources in the Transport Department here said that the emission certificates already obtained would cease to be valid from October 1.

The new norms are expected to improve the ambient air quality in the country, particularly in urban areas. They make the checking of hydrocarbons (HC) emitted by vehicles obligatory while introducing some changes in the emission level of carbon monoxide (CO). Till now only CO emission was being monitored.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recently issued a circular to the Transport Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories asking them to take measures to implement the norms.

New emission levels

Under the new norms, two-stroke two-wheelers emitting over 6,000 parts per million (ppm) units will not be allowed to ply on the roads. In the case of four-stroke two-wheelers and three-wheelers, the limit is 4,500 ppm of HC. Two-wheelers and three-wheelers manufactured prior to April 1, 2000, can ply with emission level of 9,000 ppm of HC. The limit for Bharat Stage II compliant cars fitted with three-way catalytic converters is 750 ppm of HC while it is 1,500 ppm for other cars.

As for CO, hitherto there were only two categories — two-wheelers and three-wheelers (with maximum emission level being 4.5 per cent) and four-wheelers (3 per cent).

Under the new norms, there will be four categories: Two-wheelers and three-wheelers manufactured prior to March 31, 2000 for whom the standard emission level continues to be 4.5 per cent; four-stroke two-wheelers and three-wheelers fitted with catalytic converters and manufactured after March 31, 2000 (3.5 per cent); four-wheelers manufactured after March 31, 2000 (3 per cent; no change in the norm) and Bharat Stage II compliant passenger cars, CNG buses/LPG-run four-wheelers (fitted with three-way closed-loop catalytic converters) for which the norm has been reduced from 3 per cent to 0.5 per cent.

The Regional Transport Officer (North), J. Gnanendra Kumar, told The Hindu that steps were being taken to implement the new norms. The Transport Commissioner, Om Prakash, would soon issue notices to over 210 emission testing centres in the city to upgrade their equipment to measure the HC level.

The Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), which works under the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways, had already identified a few manufacturers to supply the equipment, he said.

Diesel vehicles

Mr. Kumar, who recently attended a 10-day training on implementing the new norms at the ARAI, said for diesel vehicles the emission testing centres would have to take the measurement only when engine speed was 5200 revolutions per minute (plus or minus 300) and when the heat of the emissions reached 60 degrees Celsius.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board sources said the Carbon monoxide level recorded in most places in Bangalore was 8 mg per cubic metre of ambient air — much higher than the permissible limit of 2 mg.

They said the HC level was not being monitored.