Cabinet okay’s auto fuel policy:
The Union Cabinet on Friday cleared the auto fuel policy for the country based on the recommendations of the Dr RA Mashelkar Committee. The panel had formulated a roadmap for vehicular emission norms (Bharat 11) to be effective from April 1, ’05 and Euro III to come into effect from April 1, '10. The auto fuel policy, apart from stressing the development of alternative fuels and alternative technologies, has some recommendations that can become controversial. The finance ministry has not supported the fiscal concessions asked for to make new fuels and technologies viable. The Centre on Monday asked public sector units, particularly oil refineries, to invest Rs 40,000 crore until 2010 to help implement fuel quality. The auto sector too has been asked to spend Rs 25,000 crore for the same purpose with no change in deadline.
Source: The Economic Times, 04/10/03 and The Pioneer, 07/10/03

Bio-fuels
‘Every effort must be made to use bio-fuels’: Considering the constantly depleting resource of petroleum and its increasing rate of consumption, a seminar was organised, where the use of "Bio-Fuel" as a substitute for conventional energy was discussed. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Agriculture, Rajnath Singh said, "Energy crisis is one of the biggest crisis in the world and we should take every effort to use Bio-fuel as a substitute of the petroleum". He further said that, as America is known for Nuclear energy, similarly India would be considered as a major source of Bio-fuel in the 21st Century. The seminar was organized by an NGO Panchtatva Garima foundation. The subject of the debate was "Energy Challenges of 21^st century: Is bio-fuel a solution?"
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 03/09/2003

Bangalore: CM’s ‘green’ gift for vehicle-owners:
A more environment-friendly fuel, a mixture of five percent ethanol and petrol, will be made available in the city by the end of the month. Chief Minister S.M. Krishna announced this during the inauguration of a two-day workshop on "Scientific strategies for production of non-edible oils’’. ‘‘Five percent ethanol-blended petrol will be introduced in seven districts including Bangalore, by the end of September 2003," the CM said in his speech that was read out by Minister for Environment and Ecology Allum Veerabhadrappa. The government is reportedly thinking about bringing excise fee down to 50 paise a litre and it has also constituted a coordination committee, under the chairman of additional chief secretary and development commissioner, to look into the development of bio-fuel in the state. Environmental activists and scientists felt more efforts needed to be put in to popularize non-edible oils as fuel.
Source: the New Indian Express, Bangalore, 07/09/2003

Ethanol/Bio-diesel
Government aims at 20% blending of bio-diesel with diesel by 2012- Mahajan
Smt. Sumitra Mahajan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas informed here today that in order to supplement availability of hydro-carbons in the country, Government aims at commencing implementation of blending bio-diesel with the diesel up to 20% by the year 2011-12. Speaking at a Seminar on "Energy Challenges of 21st Century: Is Bio-fuel A Solution?" Smt. Mahajan said that there would be a greater emphasis on producing bio-diesel from non-edible plants as the edible oil in India is in short supply. For producing bio-diesel mainly the plants like neem, mahua, karanja, kusum, jatropa etc. can be grown. Plants like jatropa have a characteristic of growing in areas with scarcity of water, deserts and in wasteland.
Source: Press Information Bureau, 02/09/03

Ethanol-blended petrol extended to Uttaranchal and Madhya Pradesh:
The government has decided to launch ethanol-blended petrol in Madhya Pradesh and Uttaranchal with effect from January 1, 2004. The ethanol supplies to these States would be made from the neighbouring States of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh till the ethanol-petrol blending projects are set up in the respective States. Talking to the media, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said that the States of Goa, Haryana, Maharashtra and Punjab and the Union Territories (UTs) of Chandigarh and Dadra & Nagar-Haveli have been now fully covered by the supply of ethanol-blended petrol as on September 30, 2003. Most of the districts of Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have also been fully covered. Naik also announced that the mandatory sale time schedule is being extended.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 02/10/2003

Haryana & Punjab to sell green fuel from today:
Come October 1, ethanol blended petrol would be on sale in Punjab and Haryana. The two states would be joining UP and Maharashtra, which have been offering the eco friendly fuel for the past couple of months. This means that out of nine states cleared by the Centre to kickstart marketing of petrol, blended with 5 per cent ethanol, only four states are in a position to offer the eco-friendly fuel in the first phase. Originally, the Centre had a plan to launch ethanol-blended petrol in January 30 in nine states and four union territories. Since none of them could organize themselves to meet the deadline, it was extended to July 30 and again to September 30. Earlier according to Mr B.K. Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, it was announced that the States and UTs, which will start using ethanol-blended motor spirit, from September 30 include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Daman and Diu and Chandigarh, among others.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 01/10/2003 and Business Line, New Delhi, 04/09/2003

Bangalore: Honge oil to replace diesel in five BMTC buses:
To bring down pollution levels, especially in urban centres, the Karnataka State government is all set to introduce bio-fuels in the State including blending of five per cent of ethanol, obtained from sugar molasses and the substitution of honge oil for diesel, said Mr Vijay Gore, Additional Chief Secretary, Development Commissioner and Agricultural Production Commissioner. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Indian Oil Corporation and BMTC officials, he said sugar mills in Karnataka can produce 340 lakh litres of ethanol, but the production can go up considerably to enable blending of up to 20 per cent of ethanol in petrol. The Energy Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) will study and submit a report on the economic viability of this bio-fuel and the benefits to agriculturists who want to take it up as a crop.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 03/09/2003

Delhi: CNG quota restoration for all unlikely:
The Supreme Court has ruled that industries, which do not have firm allocations of compressed natural gas (CNG) but only tentative allotments or "fallback" cannot claim to get the gas as a matter of right. A large number of industries around Delhi will thus be deprived of the clean fuel, which is given on a priority basis to the transport and power sectors, and then to public sector undertakings. These industries intervened in petitions moved by Essar Steel Ltd and Reliance Industries, which complained that their firm allotments had been cut by one-third to half. They alleged discrimination.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 29/09/2003

Delhi: Modalities for battery-operated buses discussed:
The Delhi Transport Corporation discussed the modalities of introducing battery operated buses in the Walled City with the Union Minister of State for Sports, Mr Vijay Goel. He told the Transport Minister in the Government of NCT of Delhi, Mr Ajay Maken that Rs 30 lakh had been sanctioned from his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme for plying 10 such buses.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 06/09/2003

Centre’s draft PUC norms in for criticism:
Criticizing a draft notification issued by the Union ministry of road transport and highways, which proposes certain changes in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, under the pollution under control scheme, the Centre for Science and Environment today alleged that the proposals failed to address "diesel-run vehicles- an enormous source of particulate emissions." The gazette notification that was issued on 30 July 2003 by the ministry is to take effect from October 2004. According to CSE there is no significant effort by the government "to modify the standards or the current procedures of the free acceleration smoke test for diesel-run vehicles."
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 06/09/2003

Watchdog wants fewer 2-stroke vehicles in war against pollution:
In what might be the next step to fighting pollution in Delhi, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has asked the Supreme Court to direct the Union Transport Ministry to frame policies to reduce the number of personal vehicles in the city, especially two-wheelers. According to the EPCA, pollution problems arising out of two-wheelers are unique in Asian countries as in Europe and the United States there are not as many two-wheelers. Two-wheelers in the National Capital Region are largely two-stroke and thus one of the major pollutants of the city. The reports ask for immediate introduction of periodic taxes on two-wheelers that will make ownership and usage of old vehicles more expensive.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 12/09/2003

Indore: Banned tempos to get plying permits:
Instead of banning tempos, which are responsible for major pollution, the Madhya Pradesh state government has chosen to encourage them. Under the pressure of some local Congress leaders in view of the forthcoming elections, the government released an order of 50 new permits. Atleast 80 new permits for nagar sevas have already been issued, including which, the transport department has issued 385 permits. However the case of issuing new permits was cancelled twice amidst opposition in the district administration. As a result some Congress leaders got orders from Bhopal directly, to issue out of city permits.
Source: Free Press, Indore, 14/09/2003

Konkan:
KRCL ropes in German firm to certify sky bus system: With not much help forthcoming in the country for testing its sky bus system, Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL) has roped in German agency TUV InterTraffic GmbH for certifying the system. The corporation has also asked the various state governments to enact a Sky Bus Metro Act so that the systems when introduced will need to get safety clearance from a sky bus safety commissioner and not the Railway safety commissioner. TUV will be assessing the maturity for safe application of Konan’s sky bus metro system. TUV is involved with verifying all safety related aspects of the relevant sub-system like guideway, bogies, traction, train control as well as fire protection and emergency evacuation concepts.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 09/09/2003

Car sales slow down in Aug, exports zip ahead:
After five consecutive months of double-digit sales (following the excise cut in the Union Budget), car sales climbed a modest 6.7% in August 2003. While Hyundai and Tata Motors saw an improved performance in the month, market leader - Maruti Udyog - saw a marginal decline in sales, partly as a result of the company’s production getting affected due to a vendor strike in the month. Total domestic cars sales climbed to 53,177 units in August 2003 from 49,828 units in the same month last year, data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed. Meanwhile the passenger car exports saw an overall growth of 69.7 per cent at 43,988 units in the first five months this fiscal against 25,906 units in the same period last fiscal.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 16/09/2003 and The Pioneer, New Delhi, 18/09/2003

Auto sector told to be prepared for FTA:
The domestic automobile industry would have to prepare itself before the free trade agreement (FTA) with the South-East Asian countries comes into effect, the Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister, Dr S. Narayan, said. "Tariffs will come down and the FTA is likely to come into force in the next five to seven years. The Indian automobile industry has come a long way, but it is time to take note of the challenges ahead," he said, while addressing the annual convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). He assured the automakers on reduction in excise duty. The domestic two-wheeler industry, he said, was doing very well and the same success story must be replicated in the passenger car category and ancillary business as well. Meanwhile the government will set up a committee for formulating an integrated transport policy for optimising the growth of the automobile sector.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 04/09/2003 and The Indian Express, New Delhi, 04/09/2003

Hyundai prepares diesel Santro for India:
Hyundai is planning to introduce a 1.1 litre CRDi diesel heart on the Santro as part of its plans to take on the might of Palio and Indica. The engine is under development in Korea by Hyundai’s subsidiary Kia Motors. Officials also pointed out that the South Korean parent would also look at making India the base for its next hatchback Getz.
Source: The times of India, New Delhi, 15/09/2003

Kolkata:
Emission test centres to require PCB nod: Vehicle owners in the Kolkata city have always found it easy to get a Pollution Under Control Certificate from a testing centre by shelling out a meagre Rs 30 extra. The pollution control board has now woken from its slumber and decided to take matters in its own hands. A recent survey conducted by PCB team has reaffirmed that most auto emission testing centers in the city are farce. The PCB’s move is directed towards stricter implementation of Euro II emissions standards in Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority areas by the 3 April 2004 deadline.
Source: The Statesman, Kolkata, 15/09/2003

Lucknow: Task force set up to check pollution:
Divisional Commissioner DC Lakha on Thursday constituted a six-member task force for implementation of an action plan to check pollution in Lucknow. The task force that would be headed by district magistrate would give its suggestions on reasons behind increase in air pollution in the city and measures to check it. As per Supreme Court directives, an action plan was chalked out by the Pollution Control Board to check pollution levels in four cities of the state including Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra and Varanasi. The CPCB suggested that an inter-agency task force be constituted to look after the activities related to the implementation of the action plan for controlling air pollution in the state capital.
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 05/09/2003

Bangalore: Pollution Board invites citizens to help clean up air:
Instead of just cursing authorities for increasing air pollution levels in the city, Bangaloreans can now do their bit by putting in suggestions to the Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on how to set things right. ''We will try to implement the best suggestions and consider them while preparing a report on proposed measures,'' KSPCB chairman J. Alexander told. The Board is now busy preparing a report to be submitted to the Centre before September 25, following the Supreme Court's observations on the alarming increase in pollution levels in five cities, including Bangalore. There are 11 lakh two-wheelers in the city out of a total vehicle population of 17 lakh. Some 60,000 autos ply in the city. The transport department on their part has launched a massive drive against vehicles failing to adhere to emission testing norms.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 18/09/2003

Bangalore: Transport wing swoops down on emission testing centres:
After a meticulous scan, transport department officials swooped down on nine emission testing centres and a driving school in Bangalore city for flouting traffic norms. While the license of an emission-testing centre and a driving school has been cancelled, officials have decided to issue showcause notices to eight other centres. If the centres fail to rectify the irregularities even after issuance of notices, action will be taken against them. All the five Regional Transport Offices (RTO) in the city have launched the drive to ensure that emission testing centers and driving schools follow the rules.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 03/09/2003

Why don’t they buy diesel?:
In April-July 2003, diesel consumption slumped by about 6 per cent to 12.1 mt, compared to the same period of 2002. Various factors have combined to push the fuel off the consumer radar and the worst affected seems to be the Union and state governments, losing over Rs 2000 crore every year in taxes and duties. The fall in diesel sales can be partially explained by its substitution with cheaper imported and PDS Kerosene.
Source: Outlook, New Delhi, 08/09/2003

Bhutan to import superior quality diesel:
The National environment commission (Bhutan) with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) is planning to take cleaner air pursuit a step further -replacing the normal diesel fuel used in motor vehicles with 'ultra low sulphur high speed diesel' (ULS HSD). Negotiations with the Indian Oil Company, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), dealer for the fuel, are complete and trade ministry now awaits the formal nod from the government. Although Bhutan had established the vehicular emission standards beginning this year, its enforcement entailed difficulty because of the low quality fuel available, especially diesel, and the absence of "qualified automobile workshops."
Source: Kuensel, Bhutan, 30/08/2003

Bangladesh: 30 more CNG filling stations in city by Dec:
Some 30 more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling stations would be put in place in Dhaka city by next December. These will be in addition to the 22 existing ones, State Minster for Energy and Mineral Resources AKM Mosharraf Hossain said while inaugurating a new CNG filling station in the city's Mirpur area. The government has already declared CNG as a "thrust sector" and to exempt duty on the import of CNG machinery and kits.
Source: The Bangladesh Observer, Dhaka, 26/08/2003