Considering the recommendations from the industry stakeholders, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has deferred compliance of construction equipment vehicles (CEVs) and tractors to the new emission norms to April 2021. The ministry notified the same on September 30, issuing a notification in this regard.

The MoRTH notification amends CMVR 1989 through GSR 598(E) dated September 30, 2020 deferring the applicability date for implementing the next stage of emission norms for tractors (TREM Stage-IV) from October 2020 to October 2021. For the CEVs, the applicability of next phase of emission norms is proposed to be with effect from April 1, 2021, providing a deferment of six months, according to the notification.

The amendment also attempts to avoid confusion between the emission norms of other motor vehicles which has BS as norms, and those for agricultural machinery, construction equipment vehicles and such other equipment. As per the amendment, there will be separate emission norms for agricultural machinery (agricultural tractors, power tillers and combined harvesters) and construction equipment vehicles. Also, there is a change in the nomenclature of emission norms from Bharat Stage (CEV/TREM)-IV and Bharat Stage (CEV/TREM)-V to, TREM Stage-IV and TREM Stage-V for agricultural tractors and other equipment, and CEV Stage-IV and CEV Stage-V for the construction equipment vehicles.

The MoRTH had earlier received requests from the Ministry of Agriculture, tractor manufacturers and agriculture associations, to postpone the implementation of the new emission norms. Similarly, the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (ICEMA) had approached the government to postpone the implementation of the latest emission norms, as the industry was already reeling under the pressure from the steep drop in sales due to the COVID-19 impact.

The new emission norms will add to the equipment cost for OEMs. In the current COVID-impacted market conditions, it will be a burden for the companies to shell out more money to meet the requirements of the new norms. The deferment for six months will definitely give some relief to these equipment manufacturers in preparing for the new emission regime.