Driving SUVs, BMWs in India is criminal, says Ramesh | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
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Driving SUVs, BMWs in India is criminal, says Ramesh

Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi
Nov 13, 2010 01:59 AM IST

Use of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in countries like India is "criminal", environment minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday, stressing the need for evolving an effective fuel policy regime to discourage the use of such vehicles that emit more carbons.

Use of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in countries like India is "criminal", environment minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday, stressing the need for evolving an effective fuel policy regime to discourage the use of such vehicles that emit more carbons.

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"The luxurious growth of large-size vehicles like SUVs is really a cause of concern... use of vehicles like SUVs and BMW in countries like India is criminal," Ramesh said at a United Nations function. "I think we seriously need to think about fuel policy regime."

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The minister said there should be a reformed diesel policy as the real beneficiaries of the diesel subsidy are the owners of the "BMWs, the Benzs and Hondas" and not farmers.

"We are subsidising diesel. We have reformed policy as far as petrol is concerned. We are yet to reform as far as the net effect of diesel subsidy is concerned," he said. He wanted subsidy in the social security sector for only LPG and kerosene.

He proposed that a penalty be imposed on the type of cars that people don't want to see on roads, such as diesel-driven cars and SUVs.

"We can not ask people to buy or not to buy a particular car. But through an effective fiscal policy, we can certainly have an impact."

Ramesh said the transport sector contributed 7.5 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the country and this is expected to be 15 per cent in the next 15 to 20 years.

"We are worried and we are looking at how to control these emissions from transport sector. For this to happen, there should be mandatory fuel efficiency standards," he said.

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