Govt amends Motor Vehicles Act to include bio-fuel run farm tractors

The government Tuesday notified dual-fuel usage for agriculture and construction equipment vehicles in a bid to promote the use of alternative fuels like CNG in tractors, tillers and harvesters.

Facts :

• The Ministry Road Transport & Highways has notified dual-fuel usage for agricultural and construction equipment vehicles.
• The notification was issued following amendments of rules 115A and 115 B of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to incorporate new rules 115 AA and 115 BB for the purpose.
• These include tractors, power tillers, construction equipment vehicles and combine harvesters which have originally been manufactured as dual -- fuel with diesel as primary fuel and CNG, Bio CNG as secondary, or have been converted as such from in-use diesel vehicles.
• The government notified dual-fuel usage for agriculture and construction equipment vehicles in a bid to promote the use of alternative fuels like CNG in tractors, tillers and harvesters.
• Emission norms for smoke and vapour from these dual fuel vehicles will be the same as prevailing mass emission norms for the diesel mode.
• The mass emission standards for these CNG, Bio CNG, LNG dual fuel engines of the agriculture tractors, power tillers, construction equipment vehicles and combine harvesters will be the same as the emission standards for the diesel engines of these vehicles with the exception that the HC (Hydrocarbon) shall be replaced by NMHC (Non-Methane Hydrocarbon) on measurement basis as detailed in rule 115 A.
• The tests for particulate matter and emission of visible pollutants (smoke) stipulated in the rule 115A will continue to be applicable for dual fuel CNG or Bio-CNG or LNG engine or vehicle.
• According to the section, every agricultural tractor and construction equipment vehicle manufactured shall be maintained and used by its owner in such condition that visible and gaseous pollutants emitted by them comply with the standards prescribed in this rule.
• The type approval certificate of CNG or Bio-CNG or LNG dual fuel kit for retro fitment will be valid for three years from the date of issue and will be renewable for three years at a time.
• Also, the Original Equipment manufacturer or retrofitter will be responsible for meeting the safety requirements and code of practice for vehicle or engine and its kit components.
• The notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to this effect was issued after due consideration of objections and suggestions received from the public in this regard.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in May this year had invited objections and suggestions from those likely to be affected from the amendment.

Analysis :

• Agriculture tractors, power tillers, construction equipment vehicles and combine harvesters can now be converted to run on bio-fuels.
• With dual fuel usage of vehicles the advantage is that they will use 60% diesel and 40% bio-CNG or LNG and hence cause less pollution and also turn out to be cost effective.
• Vehicles are either run on diesel, petrol or CNG, now the diesel category vehicles including agricultural tractors and construction equipment vehicles can be converted to dual fuel.
• As per the notification you can either get it retrofitted or the original equipment manufacturers can make them.
  This move will give a boost to vehicles run on bio-fuel, and help in reducing both cost and pollution.

By: Harman Sandhu