Govt skips one stage, BS-VI emission norms from 2020 onwards

In October 2015, it was announced that BS-V norms would be applied from 2019, followed by BS-VI in 2023, but it now appears the government will go straight to the stricter emission standards in a bid to cut down on pollution caused by vehicles.

The central government on Wednesday has chose to implement Bharat Stage, BS VI emission norms from April 1, 2020, and to skip BS V norms. The meeting was attended by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Heavy Industries Minister Anant Geete and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

All the other ministries have assured cooperation to make the implementation successful, he added.

Subsequently, the earlier draft of switching over to BS-VI after BS-V has been withdrawn by the ministry and a notification in this regard will soon be issued.

The air pollution levels especially in the Delhi NCR (National Regional Region) region has reached the severe levels leading to the vehicle rationing Odd even scheme in Delhi.

It may be mentioned that the Auto Fuel Policy had recommended implementation of BS-VI norms by 2024. While Delhi is now observing odd-even scheme, Supreme Court has cracked down on diesel vehicles by banning registration of diesel cars and SUVs with engines above 2,000 cc.

“They want more time to upgrade to BS-VI emission norms as the move would require some design changes in vehicles, particularly more bonnet space and lead to increase in their capital cost”, said a senior Road, Transport and Highways Ministry official.

At present, BS-IV ( similar to Euro-IV) fuel is being supplied in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh.

Currently, only 50 cities in India get BS-IV fuel, while the rest still use BS-III fuel.

By April 1, 2017, the whole of India is scheduled to come under BS-IV norm.

“The automobile sector is anxious about the integration of two technologies following the decision to skip BS-V norms”. The Ministry expects the Indian Automobile industry, with its technical competence and commitment to environment, to rise to the occasion and support the decision.