Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said he never thought of a car as a “cleaning machine” and termed the claim of Jaguar Land Rover CEO that Delhi air sucked in by JLR cars is far dirtier than what they emit as “crazy statements”
“Car makers are making some crazy statements... I never thought of a car, not emitting carbon emission, but is a cleaning machine. I never thought about it. If somebody is going crazy I can’t help it,” Mr. Javadekar said, while speaking at an Assocham event on smart cities here.
He was >referring to the statement made by JLR CEO Ralph Speth , who said that air sucked in by its latest technology vehicles on Delhi roads is “far dirtier” than what they emit.
“The latest EU VI regulation schemes have got technical features, which (can) clean the air in Delhi. These kind of vehicles drive like a hoover... The air they suck in is far dirtier than the air which comes out of it,” Mr. Speth had told.
Environmental advocacy CSE had also criticised JLR for its ‘misleading and irresponsible’ remarks and terms the claim amounted to equating cars with “air-purifying machines“.
Mr. Javadekar, however, said there are latest technologies which could help in solving the problem of pollution.
“But the real answer lies with improving the quality of fuel in cars,” he added.
Terming the >government’s decision leapfrog to BS VI emission norms for vehicles by 2020 as a “real game changer”, he said “fuel will be Eruo VI compliant in next 1,200 days is the promise. That is the permanent solution.”
He further said the government is investing more than Rs. 60,000 crore to improve the quality of fuel and it will be ready with fuel for Euro VI norms by 2019.
