Search the Internet          Tips

No ordinance to overrule SC ruling on CNG: Govt

Basharat Peer in New Delhi

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday chaired a cabinet meeting on the Compressed Natural Gas crisis, which decided not to issue an ordinance to overrule the Supreme Court order directing the changeover of the Delhi transport system to the CNG mode.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Urban Development Minister Jagmohan, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik and others.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik said, "We have decided against any ordinance on the matter. There is no question of it."

He said it was also decided in the meeting that the government would go ahead with its submission to the Supreme Court emphasing that the usage of 0.05% Low Sulphur Diesel fuel should also be considered.

Naik argued that in no city of the world was CNG being used as the single fuel for public transport.

Emphasising upon the concept of reducing pollution by means of having proper emission norms and not just harping on a particular fuel, Naik said, "The emission standards should be prescribed instead of mentioning a particular fuel."

Naik also said the apex court has been requested to allow autorickshaws to run on petrol.

It was also decided to constitute, within 10-15 days, a committee headed by renowned scientist Dr Mashelkar to look into the scientific aspects of the whole crisis and to draw up a fuel policy.

Meanwhile, Delhi continued to witness long queues of autorickshaws and buses outside CNG filling stations.

When Naik was questioned as to when would the queues end, he said, "by the end of September."

He explained that as desired by the Supreme Court we would be establishing 87 gas filling stations by the end of September.

Naik added that orders have been placed for 14 high capacity compressors with five having been received and nine being airlifted.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report