Maruti`s eco friendly car for export only
THE JOINT sector automobile manufacturer, Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL), launched its latest model with much fanfare in May. However, Alto, the version earmarked for European markets has pollution control features that are deemed futuristic for India.
Alto has engines that will run on unleaded petrol. It also incorporates catalytic converters, which scrub carbon monoxide from the engine exhaust, but can only work on unleaded petrol.
Ecologists view the pollution-control features of the Alto as proof that environmental regulations can work if governments are willing to enforce them.
G V Subramanyam, an official of the Union ministry of environment and forests (MEF), says the problem is "more with implementation of policies already decided upon". He says the Union ministry of petroleum and natural gas was unable to reduce lead content in the petrol supplied to Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras from 560 milligrams per litre (mgpl) to 150 mgpl by September 1992 and adds the deadline has been extended to December 1994. The petroleum ministry is also to ensure low-lead petrol is easily available.
Fund shortage A joint secretary in the petroleum ministry feels that even by the end of 1994, only Delhi and Bombay will receive low-lead petrol because of shortage of the funds required to produce unleaded petrol that can be used in Indian cars.
Ironically, an increase in the lead content of petrol was necessitated by the introduction of engine technology such as those of the Maruti Suzukis, which were rated as modern by the government because they delivered more kilometres per litre. The Maruti engines were prone to "knocking" -- a term, which refers to detonations caused by incomplete combustion of fuel, as a result of the long, chain-like molecules in normal petrol. Leading of petrol lead to shorter, more compact molecules that burnt efficiently.
Petroleum ministry officials agree with the MEF's contention that refineries have to produce unleaded petrol that can be used efficiently, but argue that a total switchover to low-leaded petrol would entail an expenditure of Rs 3,000 crore. Former petroleum secretary Loveraj Kumar points out that even the automobile industry must be prepared to introduce technology which can efficiently use unleaded petrol.
Meanwhile, a study conducted by the UN Environment Programme shows that lead pollution in most Indian cities is fast approaching danger levels. Even cities with fewer automobiles, such as Bangalore, already show lead emission levels higher than those fixed as permissible in Europe and the US for the latter half of the 1990s.