India
in Euro Norms II
Why does Euro Norms have to be
restricted to certain pockets in the country?
 Meanwhile,
emission from 18 million vehicles all over the country in 1996 was
43,000 tonnes per day from 32 million vehicles. The projected figures
for 2000 are 63,000 tonnes per day from 65 million vehicles.
On-road emissions can be brought down by 80% by good care, tuning and
cleaning of vehicle engines, by inspection and maintenance, by good
emission worthy fuels and by good roads and traffic management. Good
care and maintenance mean periodical tuning (once in 3 months) cleaning
of carbon deposits (once in 3 months), overhauling carburetor and fuel
(once in 6 months) and so on.
The solution lies in collaboration among the automotive and oil
companies. Notably the European Programme on Emission, Fuels and Engines
Technology has amply recognised this view, which addresses the vehicle
and fuel system as a whole.
Better roads and traffic management also brings down the emission level
by 15 - 20 %
| On-
road Vehicle Emission |
| Year |
Before Control
Strategy |
After Control
Strategy |
| 1989 |
26,000 |
5,200 |
| 1996 |
43,000 |
8,600 |
| 2000 |
63,000 |
12,600 |
Catalytic Converters have become mandatory since 1995 for all passenger
cars that increase efficiency by upto 80 - 90 % with the use of fuel
injection, oxygen sensor and electronic engine management. They also
substantially reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
An important factor, when it comes to combating pollution is the age of
the vehicle. Indian laws, whether it is the Central Motor Vehicles Act
of 1988 or the Central Motor Vehicles Rules of 1989, place no limit on
the age of vehicles plying on Indian roads and also lack any provisions
dealing with the scraping of old commercial vehicles.
In the meanwhile, the Supreme Court's directives on the application of
Euro Norms do not apply to old, personalized vehicles.
Euro II norms are very much a reality now, so much so that the latest
advertising fad is that the automobile is "Euro II compliant".
For the sake of all those who have been able to brave the pollution, it
is time they had a reprieve.
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