SC wants centre to introduce BS-VI fuels by April 2019
27 Mar 2018
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The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to explore the feasibility of introducing BS-VI fuel in 13 metro cities by April 2019, besides introducing it in the national capital from the beginning of the next month.
A bench of Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta also asked the Centre on Monday to examine the possibility of differential pricing of diesel for heavy vehicles and small and mid-segment passenger vehicles to disincentivise the use of the fuel, a major factor behind air pollution.
The Centre had earlier informed the top court it had advanced by two years the deadline for supply of the Euro-VI petrol and diesel in view of the serious pollution levels in Delhi and the adjoining areas.
It said would start BS-VI fuels in Delhi by 1 April this year, followed by NCR and other cities.
Earlier in February, while hearing matters on air pollution in Delhi and adjoining states, the court had asked the centre to inform it whether BS-VI fuel could be made avilable in the national capital with effect from 1 April.
On diesel fuel pricing, the centre said that increasing the price of the fuel would lead to rise in price of vegetables and other essential items.
The bench said that differential pricing could be introduced in a way that ensured that price of diesel does neither stimulates demand for commercial and passenger vehicles nor impact the running of heavy vehicles.
In March last year, the court had banned the sale and registration of vehicles, that were not BS-IV compliant in India from 1 April 2017, when the new emission norms came into force.
It had observed that the health of the people was “far, far more important than the commercial interests” of the manufacturers.
