COMMENTARY
INTERVIEWS
SPECIALS
CHAT
ARCHIVES

New cars still not being registered in Delhi

Veeresh Malik in New Delhi

The confusion in the implementation of the Supreme Court directives on Euro-I and Euro-II norms for new cars sold in the National Capital Region has been confounded by the sudden volatility in the Congress party.

The Delhi government is in the hands of the Congress party. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit is among the four Congress chief ministers who have threatened to quit, in their bid to make Sonia Gandhi withdraw her resignation as Congress president.

Dikshit's cabinet has followed its. As a result, Parvez Hashmi, the ebullient ex-Bombayite and now transport minister for Delhi, is unable to issue the requisite orders.

He confirmed that ministers have followed Dikshit, and are not attending office. "How can we register cars when this is happening, bhai?"

The "file" with the "directives" has, meanwhile, moved to the legal department, where it rests, awaiting clearances. The commissioner of transport, Virender Singh, is, interim, being haunted by representatives of manufacturers.

Daewoo was able to register a few cars before the rest objected. All or none, they say. None, it is, therefore.

A new twist has been added, apparently in the case of Mercedes-Benz, where a notation has been added, seeking clarification on whether these norms apply to cars manufactured in India, or simply assembled in India.

Mercedes-Benz claims Euro-II compliance from 1996, but has not been able to register a car either.

Ford India has also submitted self-certification for their Escort (diesel and petrol), saying it complies with Euro-I and II norms.

Similar is the case with Honda Siel Limited, who claims Euro-II for their City. Fiat is soft-pedaling the Uno while seeking Euro-II for the recently launched Siena.

Maruti has filed Euro-I for the Esteem and the diesel Zen.

Hyundai claims Euro-I fitness for all the Santro models and an upgraded Euro-II-fit Santro is in the pipeline.

Telco claims Euro-I fitness for its petrol and diesel Indica. The luxury utility vehicle, the Safari, it says, meets Euro-II norms, it says.

The Supreme Court is now on summer vacation. Delhi's Dikshit-led cabinet is busy with the party crisis. The bureaucrats are seeking clarifications from everyone and anyoneo! Even vehicles powered by compressed natural gas or CNG are not getting registered, either.

Meanwhile, there is a proposal emanating from within the ministry of transport that the Supreme Court directives should be implemented on an all-India basis, wherever unleaded fuel is available, instead of being restricted to the National Capital Region.

UNI

The Supreme Court order on auto emissions and its impact on industry

Business News