EURO EMISSION NORMS

EURO EMISSION NORMS

ABSTRACT:
                 
                With increasing levels of urbanization in India, the problem of environmental safety has assumed serious proportions. Increasing levels of urbanization has generally meant higher number of vehicles plying on our god-forsaken roads. In the past decade or so, since the time the liberalization policy was set in motion, more and more households have graduated to higher income categories. Coupled with changing attitudes towards taking debt, people no longer found it difficult to own their own personal car. A small statistic tells us all. Sales of passenger cars jumped more than three times from 209,203 units 638,815 units all in a matter of seven years.
                However, the rising number of vehicles on our roads has meant increased air pollution. Blame it on the poor quality or adulteration of fuel or the bad conditions of our roads, the problem was serious enough for the country's Supreme Court to sit up and take notice. It went about setting time-bound guidelines for the automotive industry to follow. The Court took special note of the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital Region of Delhi (NCR) which has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of vehicles in the country - more than Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai put together. The effect of Euro norms came into action in our country from;
•    Euro I equivalent norms w.e.f. June 1, 1999.
•    Euro II equivalent norms from April 1, 2000.
             Initially, Euro I and Euro II norms were scheduled to commence from April 2000 and April 2005 respectively. But on the recommendation of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), they were preponed to June 99 and April 2000. It also considered SIAM’s recommendation that stress should be laid on suitable norms that could bring down the increasing level of air pollution rather than on the technology applied for the purpose. The technology part could be left at the behest of the vehicle manufacturers.
            Recently, SIAM has come out with a blueprint on the next stage of emission norms. The purpose is clear. SIAM has argued that the gap between the European and Indian stages of implementing the higher grades of pollution norms should be reduced. The Association feels that given the seriousness of the issue, it is better that this country too tries to address the problem in the shortest possible time frame, which is feasible.