On a cautious note
Why has the Delhi government failed to meet the Supreme Court (SC) order?
Why don't you ask this question to the Central government? It was the duty of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) to provide 80 new compressed natural gas (CNG) stations. They have failed to do so. This is a responsibility that also lies with the Central government.
Secondly, the ministry of surface transport (MOST) - again under the Central government - was supposed to frame mandatory emission and certification norms. They provided these norms only in March 2000 till which time our hands were tied. So the question of the state government having failed does not arise.
In two years, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has acquired only 21 CNG buses.Surely, they could have done better?
Even these 21 vehicles are facing a major problem as far as refilling CNG is concerned. There are 5,000 CNG vehicles in Delhi today and all are facing the same problem. They have to stand in queues for hours to fill gas.
But so far the only large order that has been placed is for 100 CNG buses in January 2000...
We received the last consignment of CNG buses from Ashok Leyland in September 1999 (for which the order was placed in early 1999). But the enginesof three of those buses had to be replaced within a month's time. Later, three more buses were sent for a change of theirchassis.
Till we tested these buses and addressed all the difficulties that the mechanics were facing, we did not place more orders. We did not want to waste public money. In January 2000, after Ashok Leyland had assured us that these problems would not be repeated, we placed orders for 100 more buses. Even Telco, took eight months to deliver just 10 buses. How can we place more orders?
Why didn't you issue a global tender?
Buying buses from outside India would cost a lot.
Out of 1,842 old buses only seven have been converted to CNG. Why not the rest?
Certification norms, mandatory for the registration of converted CNG buses, were framed by MOST in March 2000. Earlier, they had given a provisional certificate to run some of the converted buses, which expired. Unless the certificate was renewed we could not convert or register these buses.
What about the SC order to convert pre-1990 autos and taxis to CNG?
We have waived sales tax for CNG kits and granted four per cent interest subsidy which amounts to Rs 20,000. We are also providing soft loans from the Delhi Finance Corporation. But, so far, not a single auto or taxi driver has come forward to avail of these incentives.
For the next step, when and who will file the undertaking in the court?
The transport department will be filing the undertaking. We can take 15 days or even up to a month but we want to put forth our case with concrete proof and in a solid manner.
We are not in a hurry as we have provided the people of Delhi with substitute buses. We will pray before the Hon'ble Court that they call Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) - a division of GAIL - and MOST to take undertakings from them also.
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