War between ministries holds up India’s fuel-efficient norms

India’s Ministry of Road and Transport and Highways and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) are debating over who will be the nodal authority for the introduction of mandatory fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles. Jairam Ramesh, environment minister, said that the technical work has already been done and the compromise is being worked out. Vishnu Mathur, director-general of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), said that fuel efficiency labeling would be implemented by all manufacturers from October 1 on a voluntary basis. The Roads Ministry asked that the labeling and standards be based on carbon dioxide emissions, while the BEE maintains that consumers are more interested in mileage, rather than emissions, as a measure of engine efficiency. (August 14, 2010)