The ministry of road, transport and highways has decided to write to the governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra, where the factories of carmaker General Motors India are located. According to sources, once the ministry writes to the state governments, they are likely to investigate the matter and visit the factories after issuing a show-cause notice to the company.
??We have decided to take strict action. We will now be writing to Gujarat and Maharashtra governments. They would then get into the details as to why and how GM flouted emission norms and rules for weight of engines, etc,?? a senior road ministry official told FE.
Monday?s meeting, where the decision was taken, was attended by officials of the department of heavy industries, National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) and the company. It was headed by road secretary Vijay Chhibber.
Involving the state governments is needed as violations fall in their domain. So, issuing show-cause notices and, if need be, lodging FIR, can be done by them only.
Meanwhile, the central government has also asked the committee under Nitin Gokarn, CEO, NATRiP, to investigate the matter as early as possible and come out with some interim suggestions and remarks.
??The committee will find out how it happened when there are standard emission norms specified in detail by the government,?? the official said.
In one of the largest vehicle recalls in India, General Motors India last month recalled 1.14 lakh units of its multi-purpose vehicle Chevrolet Tavera manufactured between 2005 and 2013 to address emissions and specification issues.
The states will now decide ??whether any penal action can be taken against the company for not following the standard prescribed norms and measures to avoid such things in the future??.
General Motors has dismissed several employees for violation of company policy regarding the recall. The company had stopped the production and sale of the Tavera BSIII on June 4 and the Tavera BSIV on July 2.