New Delhi, Mar 27: Alarmed by cascading pollution levels, the Supreme Court on Monday proposed a roll out of BS6 fuel across 13 leading metros by April 1, next year.
A division bench, headed by Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur, said, the Centre may consult OMCs (Oil Manufacturing Companies) to reply to the proposal suggested by it.
Observing that at present, the diesel price was lower than petrol by only Rs 10 per litre, the apex court asked the Centre to file a detailed reply on the proposal for differential pricing of diesel for commercial, private use.
MOPNG (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas) confirmed that BS6 fuel will be made available in Delhi and NCR (National Capital Region) from April 1, next year.
Previously, the apex court in an earlier order had slapped 1% green cess on diesel vehicles with engine capacity of over 2000cc keeping in view the fact that pollution levels are increasing at an alarming rate.
The Supreme Court also asked the Union of India to reply on the proposal to extend green cess on small and medium diesel cars.
EPCA contended that diesel cars were not sufficiently taxed to deter buyers from profiting from lower oil prices. Diesel cars must be disincentivised as it was a polluting fuel, the EPCA submitted.
SC proposes BS 6 fuel roll out by next April
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