Oil Ministry Wants To Introduce BS III, But Transport Min Seeks More Time New Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to consider a proposal to defer the introduction of cleaner fuels for vehicles at its meeting on Thursday. Despite a roadmap laid down under the auto-fuel policy, the move to introduce better fuel standards for automobiles in Indian cities has got stuck with the Union ministry for road transport and highways striking a different cord than the petroleum ministry, asking that the standards be deferred by six months. The trouble lies in the fact that mere introduction of cleaner fuels does not do the trick, the automobile manufacturers also need to introduce cleaner technologies to take advantage of better fuels. While the petroleum ministry wants to phase in Bharat Stage-III based on the capacities of the refineries, the road transport ministry is batting for the auto industry and put the move on hold for six months. The auto-fuel policy and subsequent notifications by the government had mandated BS-IV norms for cars in 13 cities and BS-III norms for the rest of the country to be implemented by April 1, 2010. While the BS-IV norms have been implemented, the introduction of BS-III fuel for the rest of the country has got stuck with the road transport and highways ministry recommending that the auto industry introduce BS-III compliant vehicles only by October 2010. The ministry has claimed that the auto industry is not ready to introduce cleaner technologies even though the roadmap for implementation has been known to it for a year. Experts suggest that the introduction of BS-III norms when combined with cleaner automobiles could bring in as much as 40% improvement in harmful emissions from fuel burning. But the road transport and highways ministry has already issued a draft notification in March suggesting that auto industry introduce cleaner technologies only after October. The petroleum ministry, on its part, has asked for a deferred schedule, asking to move half the country to BSIII levels by July and the rest of the country by October. For cities like Delhi, the argument between the two ministries will also mean that the two-wheelers will also get stuck with BS-II level fuels and vehicles. Unlike the cars, they were to move from BS-II to BS-III levels, but now with the road transport ministry delaying the introduction of cleaner technology Delhi would continue to register dirtier vehicles despite having cleaner fuels.