The Mass Emission Standard for Bharat Stage-IV has been made mandatory in Himachal and only those new four wheelers which are compliant with the BS-IV standards, will be registered and allowed to ply on roads in Himachal from April 1, 2017, Transport Minister G S Bali said.
Balisaid that this will prove as a milestone in checking the pollution and further reduce carbon emissions which were much less in BS IV fuel compared to BS-III fuel.
Bali said that after the amendment of Rule 115 of Centre Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had issued notification on August 19, 2015 making Mass Emission Standard Bharat Stage IV as mandatory in most of the state including Himachal Pradesh and districts of some states.
As per this notification, the four wheeled vehicles manufactured on or after the October 1, 2015 shall comply with BS-IV emission norms but this shall not be applicable to four wheeled transport vehicle plying on interstate permit or national permit or all India tourist permit.
He said it is a major step towards making the state pollution free as envisaged by the National Green Tribunal through its various judgments.
Bali also announced release of Rs 19.26 crore for payment of pension to 4922 retired HRTC employees for the months of December 2016 and January 2017 and said that pension for remaining months would also be released soon.