India remains opposed to EU`s emission norms

Hyderabad: Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Friday said India remains opposed to the European Union`s emission norms for airlines which entail payment of fine if the emission exceeds certain limit.

"They can make laws about what happens within their sovereign territory. If we fly over their territory, they can ask us to pay for emission of carbon dioxide, whatever. But, they cannot ask us to pay if we are flying from here. "There should be a multilateral agreement with all the countries who are involved in it. Because, if each country starts imposing these rules, then the whole system will collapse," Ajit Singh told reporters. Singh, who had come here for his party`s event, said "We are very clear that we will not allow it in the present form... What EU is doing, we will not allow that". EU`s emission trading scheme requires airlines to report emission data and pay if emission exceeds capped limits. Besides India, countries like China, Russia and Brazil have also opposed imposition of fines by EU. The scheme has reportedly been postponed for inter-continental flights in the wake of the opposition. When pointed out that EU has written letters to the airlines like Air India seeking emission data, he said,"That`s nice. They are only writing letters. Because, four-five big countries – India, China, Russia, Brazil – they are totally against what EU is doing". Replying to a query on the Tata and Air Asia deal, he said the process of security clearance and checks by DGCA was going on at the moment. "How they should go about it..., (there were) some procedural problems. Otherwise, we welcome it. They have applied for a no-objection certificate. They have given the names of foreigners they will employ which we have sent for security clearance. "After that, DGCA will check. There are very detailed checks, how many pilots they will fly, how many slots to which airport, to which place, they have to be examined. Security is a very big issue in airlines," Singh said. He also informed that except for Tata-Air Asia and Jet-Etihad deal, no other proposal for partnership has been officially received. "I have been reading in the press only that SpiceJet is talking to somebody and GoAir is talking to somebody. Officially, nothing," he said. "Indigo already has 49 per cent FDI. That leaves SpiceJet and GoAir only. Air India already has such good investment from government. No FDI can beat that," he added. PTI