NEW DELHI: Barely days after heavy industries minister Anant Geete revealed that automobile major Volkswagen had accepted having flouted emission norms , transport ministry said the reports sent to them do not mention any evidence of such violation.

Earlier this week, the heavy industries ministry forwarded the tests carried out by Automotive Research and Development Center in India (ARAI) on VW cars to the transport ministry and had recommended it to take necessary action.

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“But the reports don’t mention violation of test norms. The company has also not admitted or acknowledged flouting any norms. So, there is no evidence. But to get better clarity, we will ask ARAI to respond whether they have detected any violation as per the set norms,” said a ministry official.

Nitin Gadkari, who took a review meeting on this issue with top ministry officials and representatives from the German car maker, also said that his ministry won’t take any decision or step in “haste”. “As of now, nothing is on record that suggests the manufacturer has violated our emission norms. We will follow transparent system for assessment before taking any action,” Gadkari said.

He asked until the violation is established how they can take any decision including imposing any penalty on the company.

TOI on December 3 had reported how it would be difficult for government to take action against the company on the basis of ARAI tests since India has emission norms for new vehicles and not for on-road ones. The tests carried out by ARAI show that the emission is higher in case of used vehicles, while emission from new cars is much lower than the prescribed limits.

