An integrated approach towards reducing vehicular pollution in the country is the need of the hour, said the newly-appointed office bearers of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Addressing the media, SIAM president Venu Srinivasan, said if the goverment chalks out a 10-year road map for meeting emission norms, it would help manufacturers to gear up their manufacturing and supply chain well in advance of the target dates. A reasonable lead time is a must for manufacturers to deliver quality products, he said.

Srinivasan said that no where in the world do governments force industry to follow a specific technology. "The goverment must only specify the norms and the technologyoption has to be choosen by the industry," he added.

Highlighting the need for an integrated approach towards reducing vehicular emission in India, Srinivasan said that vehicular pollution abatement requires a multi-disciplinary approach. "The auto manufacturers, component industry, oil industry and the government have to work togather," he said.

Vehicular pollution is caused on account of deficiencies in several systems, he said. This includes fuel quality, traffic management, inspection and certification of in-use vehicles, vehicle maintenance and vehicular technology.

However, the perception in the industry is that manufacturers are being singled out for not meeting the emission norms, he said.

Unless there is check on fuel quality, spare markets, implementation of inspection and certification systems and efficient traffic management systems, it is difficult to emission levels substantially, he said.

"Consumers too on their part have to ensure that they regularly maintain and service theirvehicles from authorised service centres," he added. It is important for the government to make available diesel and petrol with 0.05 per cent sulphur content all over the country at the earliest, he said.

The association plans to step up awareness campaign in the next few months for "clean air" and "safe driving", said officials. In the offing is setting up a Society for Automotive Fitness and Environment (SAFE) for development of inspection and certification systems. The association has also pledged Rs 1 crore to set up a fuel test laboratories across the country, in association with ministry of petroleum. The first such lab is expected to up and running in the capital in a year's time, officials said.

The association also plans to initiate programmes on road safety, better traffic management, inspection and certification of in-use vehicles and automotive research.

Speaking on the occasion, SIAM vice president R Seshasayee said the auto industry is grossly under utilised in terms of contribution tonational product. Over the next few years the association will work to increase industry's contribution to the economy to 10 per cent of gross national product, up from the present level of around 5 per cent, he said. The association will work closely with the government to work out anti-dumping measure for the industry, said Srinivasan.