Draft policy on auto cos sought

NEW DELHI, SEPT 18: The government has asked the automobile industry to prepare a comprehensive draft policy with a 10 to 15 years perspe...

NEW DELHI, SEPT 18: The government has asked the automobile industry to prepare a comprehensive draft policy with a 10 to 15 years perspective.

Speaking at Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers8217; first annual session in the Capital, industry secretary Ajit Kumar said that the draft should address challenges posed by the impending WTO regime and the issues of emission. He said that the WTO will open up new business opportunities for the industry. quot;The auto industry must capitalise on the new regime,quot; he said.He also said that the budget proposals for the next year would acquire greater significance in view of WTO regime. He hoped that lower rates of duty will be offset by increased sales.

SIAM president Venu Srinivasan announced that the passenger car industry would meet Stage II Euro II equivalent emission norms by April 1, 2000. He said that multi utility vehicles will be Stage II compliant in the national capital region of Delhi by April 2000. Chennai, Mumbai and Calcutta would follow suit byOctober 2000. Country-wide compliance would be achieved by April, 2002.

All commercial vehicles will be Stage II compliant by April 2003. Reacting to the proposed ban of two strom vehicles in the national capital region, Srinivasan said that clamping a ban on any category of vehicles, either diesel or two stroke vehicles, is no solution to removing vehicular pollution.

SIAM also announced plans to set up a model inspection and maintenance centre in the Capital. The facilities at the centre would initially cater exclusively to in-use two-wheelers and would subsequently be extended to commercial vehicles, said SIAM officials.

Beginning November this year, SIAM plans to carry out fitness tests covering around 2 lakh two-wheelers in the capital. Officials said two-wheelers comprise around 70 per cent of the capital8217;s vehicular population.

The Society has earmarked Rs 1 crore for setting up the centre. Officials said that the total project cost for such a state-of-the-art centre could be in the region ofRs 7 crore. quot;SIAM is keen to seek partners for assistance in setting up the centre,quot; senior officials said.

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The association has formed a separate society, Society of Automotive Fitness amp; Environment for operation of the proposed centre. Officials said that the Delhi government has earmarked land for the project and work on the project would begin very soon.

The initiative will also seek to gather emission data from two wheelers. The association proposes to extend this pilot project to other principal cities in the country. On SIAM8217;s views on issue of no-objection certificate required by joint venture MNCs partner, which is planning to come out with 100 per cent subsidiary, Srinivasan said the association has not formulated views on the subject.