In a move that will give the better and cleaner environment agenda a boost, the reach of Euro-IV fuel (diesel and petrol) will be expanded to seven more cities in the current financial year. This less polluting fuel was launched about a year ago in 13 cities.
"The ministry is targeting to expand the reach of Euro-IV to at least 50 cities by 2015. The choice of cities will depend on pollution levels, availability and supply of fuel in those cities," said an official of an oil marketing company.
In the last quarter of the current financial year, the coverage of Euro-IV fuel will be expanded to Jamnagar, Ankleshwar and Vapi in Gujarat, Hissar in Haryana, Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and Puducherry.
Consumers in these cities may have to pay Rs 0.50 per litre more for a litre of petrol and Rs 0.26 a litre more for Euro-IV diesel, since huge investments have been made by oil companies in upgrading their facilities.
Euro IV was first launched in a phased manner in 13
While these 13 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata shifted from Euro III to Euro IV, the rest of country saw a shift from Euro II to Euro III. The introduction of a better-quality fuel was done in accordance with the Auto Fuel Policy of 2003.
The introduction of cleaner auto fuel is aimed at reducing environmentally harmful emission of pollutants like sulphur and benzene.
According to CSE, the Euro-IV standards cut emissions by half from new vehicles, while the Euro III standards are estimated to reduce emissions by about 38 per cent from the Euro-II levels.
The availability of cleaner fuels will also reduce emissions from the large fleet of in-use vehicles that are already plying on the road.
Most significantly, the sulphur content in Euro-IV fuel will reduce to 50 ppm and in Euro-III diesel and petrol to 350 ppm and 150 ppm, respectively.
Sulphur in fuel contributes to the formation of particulate matter that has serious health consequences.
