The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed five States, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi, to explain their stand on making CNG as the main fuel for vehicles. They have been asked to file affidavit giving details about cities which are connected with the supply of CNG and the areas proposed to be connected.
In an effort to further push for use of cleaner fuels by state transport corporations for public vehicles, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar said that the concerned states will have to make clear the status of existing infrastructure for supply and distribution of CNG. It further asked them to delineate the respective functions that are to be performed respectively by the states and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) in this regard.
The bench went ahead to state that PNGRB has to mention as to how many cities and by when will be covered with supply of CNG, piped natural gas and what is the current status of CNG use in the five states. The green panel also asked PNGRB to submit a comprehensive plan for laying of CNG pipeline for
distribution.
The case will be heard by NGT on October 28. A related plea in this regard by Tata Motors and other automobile manufacturers will also be heard. They are seeking clarifications on previous orders of the NGT regarding the scrapping of diesel vehicles in Delhi.
last month, the NGT had ordered the governments of UP and Haryana to mull over the possibility of installing CNG stations in the National Capital Region, while refusing to grant permission to over 10-year-old diesel vehicles to ply in these areas. It asked both the states to consider the proposal after it was informed that there was no CNG station in Karnal and Meerut.