CHENNAI: Petrol and diesel conforming to Euro IV standards will be introduced in Chennai from April 1, according to D.S.L. Prasad, Executive Director, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). Speaking at the inaugural function of the Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight here on Monday, he said the sulphur content would be far less in the fuel conforming to the Euro IV norms and hence help in reducing emission levels. The oil companies were also in the process of manufacturing fuel-efficient gas stoves, which would be introduced soon. The efficiency would be 68 per cent and stoves with more than 70 per cent fuel efficiency would be given a five star rating, he said. Use of high quality engines Transport Minister K. N. Nehru said the Transport Department was the largest consumer of fuel. With the use of high quality engines, the State Transport Corporations were able to save nearly Rs.150 crore annually. In the last three years the State government had increased the fleet strength of buses to 13,152, he said. Mr Nehru said that about 2.04 crore passengers used buses every day. In an attempt to improve fuel efficiency, the Transport Department had reduced the life span of buses from six years to four and half years. In the country, Tamil Nadu was second in terms of the size of the fleet of buses owned by the State Transport Corporations. The Minister appealed to the oil industry to lay pipelines for supply of fuel to the transport corporations as in Mumbai. Such an effort would further reduce the fuel transportation cost, which, in turn, would help in reducing the emission levels, he added. N. S. Ramu, General Manager (Retail) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., and S. K. Saha, Deputy General Manager, Gas Authority of India Ltd, were among those who spoke. Variety of events Various programmes will be conducted as part of the Oil and Gas Conservation Fortnight. On Monday, a five-day awareness programme on energy conservation got under way at the Government Kilpauk Medical College. It is being organised by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (southern region). Dean of the hospital V. Kanagasabai said the programme would cover all employees starting with the nursing personnel. PCRA