The BS-4 standard fuel will be provided for use in all vehicles shortly, following the Automobile Fuel Act of the Central government, said RTO in-charge G S Hegade.
Speaking during the inaugural function of the Pollution Control Month at the Regional Transport Office in the City on Tuesday, Hegade said that the BS-4 standard vehicles are those that are considered low on pollution.
“In cities like Mangaluru, however, although the vehicle is of the said category, the fuel is still of BS-3 standard. The BS-4 fuel will soon be introduced for the vehicles,” he promised.
He further said that as per a study, out of the 30 polluted cities in the world, 13 are in India. “As many as 4,000 vehicles get registered in a month in the district.
Pollution control measures complement the road safety. Lesser accidents and lower levels of pollution will be the mark of a smart city,” he explained.
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Environment Officer Rajashekhar Puranik, who was the chief guest for the function, said that one must use mass transport facilities as much as possible, both to save fuel and to reduce environmental pollution.
“With the new policy decision of the Central government, the sulphur content in diesel has been reduced to 10 per cent, as an effort to reduce pollution at the source. Also, as per the Central government notification, maximum noise level will be fixed,” he said.
Assistant RTO R M Varnekar said that 60 per cent pollution is caused by vehicles. State Bank of India assistant general manager R N Kulkarni inaugurated the Air Pollution Control Month and said that in India, New Delhi is considered as the ‘capital of pollution’.
“The Environment Performance Index of the country has dropped by 32 points in a year and the present ranking in 155,” he said and reminded that pollution affects quality life.
Mandovi Motors Proprietor Aroor Kishor Rao said that Euro-5 vehicles will be released by automobile companies in future.