The government today said it is on track to supply cleaner Euro-IV grade petrol and diesel in 13 big cities from April 1 but sale of Euro-III fuel in rest of the country will be phased over six months.
Currently, Euro-III grade petrol and diesel is sold in 13 big cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad while Euro-II emission norm complaint fuel is sold over rest of the country.
From April 1, the 13 cities have to upgrade to Euro-IV and the rest of the nation to Euro-III but lack of planning has ensured that the programme is being implemented in phases.
"We reviewed industry's preparedness (to begin cleaner fuel supplies). Euro-IV petrol and diesel will be for sure supplied in 13 cities (by both private and public sector firms) from April 1 but Euro-III will be launched in phases to cover the entire nation by October 1," Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Jitin Prasada told reporters here.
He said since India is a vast country, Euro-III fuels cannot be supplied from day one at all the places, but industry watchers said the ministry should have begun rolling out the fuel from October 2009 so as to meet the Supreme Court mandated deadline of April 1, 2010.
The delay in Euro-III fuel supplies was because of some refineries have not upgraded their facilities in time, he said adding the implementation schedule would be drawn by the oil companies by February 15.
