The reality is both the environmentalists are worried: Not on account of this particular car but the regulatory response to the one of the fastest growing automobile market in the world (growing at more than 100 per cent in the last few years). Even today, they pointed to the lack of focus on public transport, absence of mandatory fuel efficiency standards and warped fiscal policy that encourages personalised car use.

“I have nothing against the car, it is the usage that is a problem. I am not blaming the manufacturers, it is the bankruptcy of the policy-makers. Every car takes up road-space, how about imposing social costs on all private vehicles,” asked Pachauri when responding to the launch of the one-lakh car.

After the emission standards adopted in 2000, (currently the country is on Bharat stage II), the regulators went off to sleep. Now, with climate change becoming an issue this year, the Government is now working on fuel efficiency standards. “This car makes it imperative that these standards are set as soon as possible,” said Ajay Mathur, director general of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

The fuel efficiency standard would be like a certificate promising a certain range of kilometres per litre of petrol or diesel expected from your vehicle. This would be legally enforceable. For example, today Tata claims that the Nano gives 23 km to a litre. But this is neither standardised nor legally enforceable.

BEE has signed a technical MoU with the Petroleum Conservation Research Authority (PCRA) that is working on formulating these standards.

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/260149.html