Delhi Govt. wants SC to allow diesel buses too

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 16. Blaming the Centre for the CNG crisis, the Delhi Government moved the Supreme Court for a direction to permit the plying of vehicles with low sulphur diesel along with CNG buses to meet the requirements of passenger transport in the Capital.

In its affidavit filed today, the Delhi Government pointed out that the HBJ pipeline had a capacity of 33.4 million standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD). Against the Delhi's existing demand of 3.3 lakhs kg a day, the present supply was only 2.22 lakhs kg (0.274 MMSCMD).

The affidavit coming up for consideration before the court on Friday, submitted that there was a sizable increase in the number of CNG vehicles but there was no matching progress in the supply of CNG. As a result, long queues of autos, taxis and buses were witnessed in CNG stations affecting all segments of the economy of NCT Delhi, because public transport was an important lifeline of the residents of Delhi.

The Government stated that everyday commuters were stranded, children were facing hardships in commuting to and fro to their school. Operators and transporters were adversely affected. As they could not fully utilise their CNG vehicles, they were unable to pay instalments of the loan obtained for purchase of vehicles.

While pleading for extending the time-limit for conversion of commercial vehicles in the Capital into the CNG mode beyond September 30, the affidavit brought to the notice of the court the pitfalls of completely depending on the CNG fuel as it was not free from great risk.

Giving statistics of accidents caused to CNG vehicles, the Delhi Government wanted the court to consider the recommendation of Bharat Stage-II petrol and diesel technology (with maximum 0.05 per cent sulphur content) and 1 per cent benzene in petrol as alternate fuel for meeting the transport requirements of Delhi.

Also, the hazards involved in usage of CNG in the entire public transport system appeared to be very high and therefore, in the larger public interest, it was imperative to examine plying of vehicles with alternative fuel.

The diesel which was being supplied in Delhi, matched the diesel supplied in any advanced country and by adopting the policy of multiple-fuel mode, there would be no risk of total chaos in any eventuality.

The reliefs sought by the Delhi Government include: to direct the CNG supply agencies to augment the allocation and dispensing facilities of CNG for transport sector and to strictly follow the safety norms for CNG-driven vehicles; allow plying of public transport fleet on multiple-fuel mode till such time the CNG agencies were able to provide normal supply; allow registration of Bharat Stage-II mass emission standards compliant vehicles with maximum 0.05 per cent sulphur content diesel with effect from October 1 for city operations.

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