The Hindu : New Delhi News : Light goods vehicles may switch to CNG

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 29, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Light goods vehicles may switch to CNG

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, JUNE 28. After the positive results on the environment front following the switchover of public transport vehicles to the eco-friendly CNG, the Delhi Government is now contemplating making it compulsory for light goods vehicles in the Capital to switch over to CNG as well from next year. The move is likely to coincide with the proposed switchover to Euro III norms from April 2005.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) set up by the Supreme Court for the National Capital Region (NCR) has made a recommendation in this connection to the Delhi Government.

The Government is already seized of the matter and is likely to move the Supreme Court with such a proposal in the near future. The effort is being seen as a move to take the fight against air pollution further and give it a new direction.

It is learnt that the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, reviewed the situation on the CNG front along with her Transport Minister, Haroon Yusuf, and other senior officials and stressed the need to give a fresh impetus to the fight against pollution and congestion of the city. The Transport Department has already drawn up a proposal in this regard. According to the proposal, all light goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes plying as local goods carrier would have to switch over to the CNG mode. This would go a long way in bringing down the air pollution levels.

The EPCA felt that though trucks could not be converted to the CNG mode due to non-availability of CNG outside Delhi, a significant number of light goods vehicles plying within Delhi could switchover to the CNG mode.

At present there are around 46,000 light goods vehicles operating in the Capital. Of these, 24,000 vehicles are of TATA 407 make with a payload factor of 4 tonnes. Around 13,000 three-wheelers are operating as goods carrier.

The EPCA has already held discussions with the vehicle manufacturers regarding the technical feasibility of running the goods vehicles on CNG. One of the leading manufacturers informed the EPCA that they were only producing vehicle of more than 7.5 payload factor that were covered under medium category vehicle and were also Euro II compliant.

The other manufacturer informed that all their vehicles were Euro II compliant. It informed that it would take around six to eight months for developing CNG technology for light goods vehicles if the need arises. The EPCA is leant to have asked both the leading truck manufacturers to submit a report regarding the technical feasibility and their preparedness to manufacture light and medium goods vehicles to run on CNG fuel.

It is understood that Ms. Dikshit is keen that goods vehicles plying within the Capital with a payload factor of 7.5 tonnes could switch over to the CNG after being given a time frame for the same. Stating that there was always scope for further improvement, the Chief Minister is believed to have directed the officials to draw up a road map for conversion of light goods vehicles in CNG and even approach the Apex Court if necessary.

It was also felt that as the CNG vehicles had completed three years in the Capital, it was essential that a precautionary check should be carried out on their emissions in order to reassure that these vehicles had not become polluting liabilities.

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