Pollution by Air-Conditioned Vehicles

Air-conditioned vehicles are likely to consume more fuel than non-air conditioned vehicles. More fuel consumption results in more vehicular emissions. The Central Pollution Control Board has not carried out any study on pollution from air-conditioned vehicles. However, the steps taken by the Government to control pollution on account of vehicular emissions include the following:

(i) Emission standards for on-road vehicles and mass emission standards for new vehicles have been notified under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and are enforced by Transport Department of the State Governments. (ii) Unleaded petrol is supplied in the entire country from 1 February 2000. Bharat stage-IV emission norms introduced in 13 mega cities including NCR for new 4-wheelers in 2010. Bharat stage-III norms introduced for two, three wheelers and diesel driven agricultural tractors from April 1, 2010 throughout country.

(iii) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is supplied for automobiles through a number of retail outlets in Delhi and Mumbai to cater to the CNG vehicles.

The above information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan to the Parliament today.

MC/sk