Delhi Govt's new CNG Plan
Delhi government's Christmas gift is a face-saver in reality. The city government has come out with a new plan, after being forced by the transporters to dump the previous diesel bus phase-out schedule.
"This has been done so as not to attract the wrath of the apex court. After the government went back on its phase-out programme earlier this month, the officials worked overtime to chalk-out a new plan," said a source in transport department.
But, even as the government comes up with the 200-bus-per-month formula and submits it to the court later this week, chinks remain in the new plan.
Will the Supreme Court approve? The city government had proposed a similar solution to the Apex Court earlier which was summarily rejected. "At least we are making a start. Having realised the constraints, we expect the Court to understand," he said.
However, this time, the government has linked the phasing-in and phasing-out. "The catch phrase remains the simultaneous phase-in and phase-out of the buses," explained an official.
January 31 remains the deadline: According to the Supreme Court ruling all diesel buses are to be phased-out by January 31, 2002. "The permits of those buses which are not phased-out by the deadline will have to be cancelled," said an official. And if the Court does not intervene before the deadline and spell out its motives, the city would be left with just 3,400 buses on February 1. The next date of Supreme Court hearing is February 8.
March 2002 is crucial: The city government has said it will revise the schedule after the Union petroleum ministry makes clear its gas supply position after March, 2002. "What if the petroleum ministry says it cannot provide gas to additional buses after March next year or decides to supply to only 50 additional buses?" questioned an official. In that case, the plan to phase-out the entire fleet in 32 months will bite the dust. Given the petroleum ministry's reluctance on the CNG supply issue, it is highly unlikely that they will increase the CNG supply.
Transporters' non-cooperation: The first phase-out plan crashed mainly because the transporters did not cooperate. Says the official: "The operators should clearly understand that we are committed to phase-out diesel buses and there can be no compromise over compliance of the Supreme Court's directions.
Phasing-in: "We will give the operators the existing permit. Though phasing-in cannot happen simultaneously, but favourable conditions will propel them to bring in CNG buses," said the official.
