Want clean air? Take a deep breath, hold it

The roadmap, prepared by a panel headed by CSIR chief R A Mashelkar, had been approved by the Cabinet. But now three Ministries, Surface Transport, Petroleum and Finance have all got together to suggest ‘‘changes’’ in key elements of this roadmap.

Each Ministry has its own reasons but taken together, these allow trucks and buses to pollute longer; deter introduction of greener fuels. And delay the setting up of an enforcement agency mandated by the court.

When contacted by The Sunday Express, Transport Minister B C Khanduri said: ‘‘I need to study the proposals.’’ Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said: “The policy is going to the Cabinet. We don’t want a repeat of the New Delhi crisis. We want to streamline things.” Hardly.

Trucks and buses

• What Mashelkar panel set: 2004 as the deadline for all trucks and buses registered in or before 2000 to meet what are called ‘‘1996 norms.’’ This is one step lower than Euro I. (Incidentally, all cars you buy in the four metros today are Euro II; in the rest of the country, they are Euro I).

• Government: But even this low bar cannot be met, say the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Petroleum Ministry. Both want the deadline pushed back to 2006. As for trucks and buses registered after 2000, Mashelkar had said that all of them should conform to Euro I by 2004. Both Ministries say make it 2007.

Fuel and engine standards for all vehicles (trucks, buses, cars)

• Mashelkar: 11 cities (Four metros, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur and Agra) should have vehicles and fuel as per Euro III norms by 2005. (Incidentally, Europe has Euro III today). Rest of the country should be Euro III by 2010.

• Government: For the four metros and 11 cities, 2005 deadline is OK. But let’s then review in 2006 whether 2010 is feasible for the rest of the country.

Who will ensure these deadlines?

• Mashelkar: Set up an independent body, the National Automobile Pollution and Fuel Authority (NAPFA). Empower it to check all vehicles, monitor fuel quality, ensure emission compliance and supervize all regional centres and labs.

• Govt: ‘‘In principle,’’ we agree to NAPFA but it could lead to ‘‘creation of single new authority that may clash with the existing infrastructure.’’ Power to fix ‘‘revised schedules’’ in case there are problems—arising out of inadequate fuel supply or transporters’ strike—should rest with us.

Show us the money

• Mashelkar: To ensure the roadmap is implemented, there has to be a one-time budgetary support for North-East refineries and customs and excise concessions for manufacturers to help them upgrade auto engines or refineries.

For Euro I fuel which is already available, Rs 10,000 crore has been spent; another Rs 18,000 crore required by 2005. An extra 12,000 crore needed between 2005-2010.

• Govt: Finance Ministry says there is no ‘‘budgetary support’’ and excise and duty cuts will mean ‘‘loss of revenue.’’ The automobile and the petroleum industries have to organise their own resources. No commitment on support to North-East refineries which are already operating at ‘‘sub-economic levels.’’