Euro-III fuel in 11 cities from Apr 1

India will begin supply of ultra low sulphur content petrol and diesel in all but seven states from April 1, the government announced on Thursday.

Petrol and diesel confirming to Euro-III vehicular emission norms would be available in 11 major cities and Euro-II grade petrol in rest of the country from next month.

However, Euro-II grade diesel would be supplied in all states expect Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachyal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, where the clean fuel would be introduced by October 1.

"The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for deferring introduction of Bharat Stage-II (Euro-II) diesel fuel in seven states by six months," Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy said.

Euro-III grade petrol and diesel would be supplied in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat, Kanpur and Agra and Euro-II grade petrol in rest of the country from April 1.

But due to supply constraints, diesel of Euro-II (Bharat Stage-II) grade would be available by October 1 as against April 1, he said.

The National Auto Fuel policy, drafted for cutting pollution, envisages supply of diesel with 0.035 per cent sulphur and cetane number 51 and petrol with one per cent benzene and octane number 91 in 11 cities from April 2005.