Euro-III vehicles, fuel to bring some clean air to Bangalore

Euro-III vehicles, fuel to bring some clean air to Bangalore
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Bangaloreans may be soon able to breath some clean air. With the implementation of the Euro-III emission norms, pollution levels in the Garden City, which is now chocking with vehicular emissions, is expected to come down significantly.

Complying with the Centre's directions, oil companies are supplying Euro-III standard fuel and to supplement the move, the Transport Department is registering only Euro-III compliant cars and jeeps in the city from April 1.

``Except for old Euro - II vehicles with dealers, the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in the city are registering only Euro-III standard four-wheelers from April 1 onwards,'' Transport Commissioner Om Prakash told this website's newspaper.

However, outside Bangalore, both the fuel supplied by the oil firms and the four-wheelers registered continue to be Euro-II compliant.

Compliance with high standards of emission norms and clean fuel will help reduce increasing levels of vehicular pollution, as around 800 vehicles were registered in the five RTOs in the city everyday, the officer added.

The Supreme Court recently issued a notice to the Karnataka Government for the high levels of vehicular pollution in Bangalore. However, sale of adulterated fuel and lubricants will continue to add to pollution levels. ``Transport, Police and Food and Civil Supplies Department should work together to tackle the problem,'' sources said.

The Euro-III standard petrol will have only .015 per cent sulphur, one per cent Benzene and 91 Octane and Euro-II fuel will have .05 per cent of sulphur, three per cent Benzene and 88 Octane.

POLLUTING AUTORICKSHAWS UNDER DEPARTMENT SCANNER

The Transport Department is coming down heavily on the autorickshaws violating emission norms. In just six days, from April 11 to 16, the department has booked 186 cases of emission of more smoke, 173 cases for tampering of silencers, 170 for non-working parts (indicators, headlights) and 498 other cases. ``We have cancelled Fitness Certificates of 36 autorickshaws,'' Transport Commissioner Om Prakash said.