Even after sufficient lead time and getting a roadmap of convenience from the government, some refineries may miss the April 2005 deadline to introduce Euro III norms in 11 Indian cities. Some refineries have started putting pressure on the government to delay the deadline.

Excuses galore hit media all of a sudden. Conflicting reports are coming out. For   instance, while refineries claim they are in a position to produce Euro III fuels from April 2005, some voices in the sector say they would still need to import to meet the projected shortfall!

Fortunately, so far the petroleum ministry has been able to stave off the pressure and has not relented to postponement of the deadline. his could largely be due to the vigilant role played by the media. It has been tracking the developments and reporting on a regular basis. The media has made an explicit link between the urgency of these norms and the pollution challenge in cities. An editorial in The Hindu, a national daily, chastised, "The April 2005 deadline was fixed in consultation with refiners in both the public and private sectors, and the Centre must ensure that it is not extended unreasonably."

Meanwhile, the automobile industry has gone ahead to announce its readiness to meet the original deadline. If the Euro III compliant vehicles with improved technologies begin to hit roads on time without the matching fuels, these will be made to combust the extra load of sulphur in fuels. This is clearly not acceptable, as the high sulphur fuels will shorten the life of the emissions control systems of the new vehicles.