Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The government is set to allow older diesel trucks and buses to be fitted with a low-cost emission-control device developed from an innovation at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
The retrofit emission-control devices (RECDs) are designed to reduce particulate matter emissions by up to 90% and nitrogen oxide emissions by around 60 per cent, according to details shared by the minister. The devices can be fitted on BS-III, BS-IV and older diesel vehicles and are expected to bring their emission levels close to those of BS-VI vehicles.
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WHAT IS AN RECD?
An RECD is a pollution-control device fitted to an existing diesel generator to clean its exhaust before it enters the air. It works like an air purifier for generator exhaust, reducing pollutants such as soot, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
In simple terms: dirty exhaust goes in, cleaner exhaust comes out.
The retrofit device is expected to cost around Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, making it a considerably cheaper option than replacing an ageing commercial vehicle with a new BS-VI-compliant vehicle.
Gadkari made the announcement on Thursday at an event organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). He said the technology had successfully completed testing and would supplement the government’s existing programme to scrap and replace older heavy vehicles.
The move is aimed at addressing vehicular pollution from older diesel vehicles that continue to operate on Indian roads. Similar emission-control technology has already been used for diesel generator sets.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is preparing to notify Automotive Industry Standard 228 (AIS-228) for the rollout of the technology. The standard will prescribe the technical specifications and performance requirements that retrofit emission-control devices will have to meet.
The government intends to use the technology alongside its broader efforts to reduce emissions from older vehicles rather than relying only on vehicle replacement.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
