The Centre’s decision to adopt Bharat Stage VI automotive fuels nationwide by April 1, 2020

Opinion on The Centre’s decision to adopt Bharat Stage VI automotive fuels nationwide by skipping BS V by April 1, 2020 .

Summary of the opinion:

This has significant cost implications for fuel producers and the automobile industry, but its positive impact on public health would more than compensate for the investment.
Major pollutants such as fine particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide emitted by millions of vehicles on India’s roads are severely affecting the health of people.
Past national policy of implementation of the BS IV fuel standard failed primarily because this was not done all over the country and the technical standard also permitted a higher level of sulphur in the fuel.
Higher sulphur results in high volumes of fine respirable particulates measuring 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) being generated in emissions.
The monitoring of diesel passenger and commercial vehicles – the biggest contributors to total emissions – for compliance with emissions regulations remains poor.
The distortions in urban development policy that facilitate the use of personal motorised vehicles rather than expanding good public transport, walking and cycling, are glaring.
Many of these issues were underscored by the Saumitra ChaudhuriCommittee on Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025 in its report submitted in 2014.
A study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi on fuel policy and air quality in the same year concluded that the best results would be achieved by raising the fuel standard and introducing policy.

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