Goa goes BS-III fuel compliant
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, APRIL 1
While 13 major cities switched over to Bharat Stage-IV compliant fuel, Goa became the first State in rest of the country to upgrade from BS-II to BS-III fuel when the oil industry launched the BS-III fuel in the State on Thursday.
While the BS-III promises cleaner and greener fuel, it will come at a price – petrol and diesel will be hiked by 26 paise and 22 paise per litre respectively.
A formal function to launch the BS-III fuel was conducted at the Laxmi Patrol Pump, here, in the presence of Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’ Souza, Chief Secretary Sanjiv Shrivastav and other senior officials.
Speaking to reporters, sales manager of Goa Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) G Tiwari said: “As part of the petroleum sector’s aim to provide clean and green fuel to the nation, the BS-III has been launched in Goa.”
“The most significant feature is that the sulphur content in BS-III diesel and petrol has been reduced to 350 ppm and 150 ppm, respectively. Sulphur in fuel contributes to the formation of particulate matter that has serious health consequences.”
“BS-III standards are expected to reduce emissions by about 38 per cent from BS-II levels,” Tiwari added.
The Centre has laid down the phase-wise implementation of BS-II, III and IV vehicular emissions and fuel standards across the country by 2010.
“Customers will have to spend a bit more on BS-III as petrol and diesel will be higher by about 26 paise and 22 paise per litre respectively.
Earlier, Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’ Souza along with Chief Secretary Sanjiv Shrivastav, Secretary of Civil Supplies D C Sahoo, Director of Civil Supplies Gurudas P Pilarnekar, IOC Terminal Manager D Monty, senior officials of Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum launched BS-III by fueling cars at the Laxmi Petrol Pump, Vasco.
D’Souza congratulated the oil companies for launching the
environmental-friendly fuel in the State, which would help reduce fuel emission level.
Goa Petrol Pump Owners Association President Paresh Joshi welcomed the initiative of the oil companies to launch BS-III in the State, claiming it would reduce the lethal gases that are hazardous to the people.
“The introduction of BS-III would have some problem for old vehicles which are not equipped with catalectic converters. However, new vehicles won’t face these problems as they are fitted with this system,” said Joshi.
While 13 cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Surat, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Solapur) became BS-IV compliant on Thursday, the rest of the country has till October 31 to become BS III.
The rest of the country will move up from BS-II grade to BS-III fuel in phases from April 1 till October. The first city where BS-III will be rolled out is Goa from April 1.
According to sources, due to non-availability of the BS-III fuel, the petroleum ministry had proposed staggered availability of the fuel, beginning with Goa, three other states by June, three more by July and the rest by October.
