Slamming Jaguar Land Rover for calling Delhi air sucked in by its cars 'far dirtier' than what they emit, environmental advocacy group CSE today said this amounts to equating cars with "air-purifying machines".
Terming as 'misleading and irresponsible' the comments made by luxury carmaker JLR's CEO Ralph Speth, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the car companies cannot be allowed to "hide behind such claims" amid raging concerns over "toxic diesel emissions even in advanced markets today".
"No car company can get away by making such remarks in any other country. Instead of misleading the public and policymakers, vehicle industry should acknowledge special public health concerns associated with toxic diesel emissions and take full responsibility for quick and drastic cuts in emissions by leapfrogging to Euro VI emissions standards to reduce public health risk," CSE said in a statement.
It further said this was "a serious affront when judicial and executive action is focussed on reducing public health risk from diesel emissions".
In a strong criticism of the ban on high-end diesel car sales, Speth had said on the sidelines of the Auto Expo here that "the latest EU VI regulation schemes have got technical features, which (can) clean the air in Delhi.
"These kind of vehicles drive like a hoover... Air they suck in is far dirtier than the air which comes out of it."
JLR is among the automobile companies hit hard by the apex court order in December last year banning registration of diesel SUVs and cars above 2000 cc in the entire National Capital Region till March 31.
The government has also decided to advance enforcement of much stricter Euro VI emissions standards.
In its statement, CSE said it "condemns the misleading remark of the Jaguar and Land Rover Chief Ralph Ralf Speth in claiming that their cars act like air purifying machines".
(REOPENS DEL 49)
"Globally diesel cars have come under scrutiny and action for aggravating the problem of nitrogen oxide pollution and high and variable emissions from diesel cars on road," CSE's Executive Director Anumita Roy Chowdhury said.
CSE further said the Jaguar statement follows Mercedes Benz that had made similar claims about the emissions from their cars being clean even as the Chief Justice T S Thakur commented, "Does your car emit oxygen?"
Asking JLR to "take back" these words and support the government in bringing clean diesel technology quickly, CSE further asked the carmakers not to "confuse people with what you sell in India with what you sell in Europe or in US".
Quoting its own analysis, it further said the car industry might be producing clean diesel technology in advanced markets of the US and Europe but not in India as the law of the land does not require them to.
It further said that experience in the US and Europe shows that even at Euro VI, concerns remain over diesel cars.
"Paris is banning diesel cars by 2020. London has proposed to bar entry of diesel cars not meeting Euro VI diesel cars in their ultra low emissions zones," it said.
CSE further pitched for advancing the Euro VI emissions standards and enforcing stringent in-use compliance norms to ensure the emissions from their cars remain within margin during the life time of the car.
Referring to the Volkswagen emissions scandal in which defeat devices were used to reduce the severity of the emissions control systems while on road that increased emissions significantly, Chowdhury said, "Make car manufacturers liable, accountable and responsible for the lifelong emissions performance the cars."
It also accused the diesel car industry of "resorting to circumvent the Supreme Court judgment by replacing the 2000 cc engines with slightly smaller engines".
"Tax all diesel cars higher based on 'polluter pays' principle. Do not allow luxury segment on dirty diesel technology," CSE further said.
