Government, on Wednesday, preponed the implementation of BS-VI emission norm to 2020. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by transport minister Nitin Gadkari and was attended by ministers of petroleum, environment and heavy industries.

NEW DELHI: Government, on Wednesday, preponed the implementation of BS-VI emission norm to 2020.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by transport minister Nitin Gadkari and was attended by ministers of petroleum, environment and heavy industries.

Gadkari told TOI that the decision to take necessary steps to reduce air pollution in the country was unanimous. Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that the government has kept the promise of PM in COP-21.

India currently has BS-III, equivalent of Euro-III specifications, across the country and BS-IV in major cities. "BS-IV will be supplied in most big cities by April 2016 and all over the country from April 2017," he said.

Oil refineries will need to invest Rs 80,000 crore in upgrading petrol and diesel quality to meet cleaner fuel specifications by 2020.

Previously, the fuels meeting Euro-IV or Bharat Stage (BS)-IV specifications were to be supplied throughout the country by April 2017 and BS-V or Euro-V grade fuel by April 1, 2020.

BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, while BS-V and BS-VI grade fuel will have 10 ppm sulphur.

Oil refineries had previously upgraded technology and invested over Rs 55,000 crore for production and supply of BS-III/IV fuels. Another Rs 80,000 crore investment would be required for further upgradation.

Currently, BS-IV auto fuels are being supplied in whole of northern India covering J&K, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and western UP. The rest of the country has BS-III grade fuel.

(With inputs from agencies)

