No curbs on CNG registration

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, OCT. 19.The divergent stand taken by the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry before the Supreme Court on the availability of CNG fuel in the city today had its desired impact. The Delhi Government announced there would be no restriction on registration of CNG vehicles, both in commercial and private sector, as the Centre had stated that enough CNG was available in the Capital.

The Delhi Transport Minister, Mr. Parvez Hashmi, said it had been decided to do away with the earlier restriction of registering 200 buses and 300 autorickshaws and taxis. ``It had been decided to do away with the cap of 500 vehicles per month. Instructions had been issued to the Transport Department to register all vehicles which approach irrespective of their numbers. When the Union Petroleum Ministry has stated before the court that the CNG supply was more than the demand, what is the need for restricting the numbers,'' he asked.

What has agitated the Delhi Government and particularly Mr. Hashmi, is the Union Petroleum Minister, Mr. Ram Naik's stand during his meetings with the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, that his Ministry was not in a position to supply CNG to more than 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles. He had sought to restrict the registration of CNG vehicles to avoid chaos on the roads. However, the totally opposite stand taken by the Indraprashta Gas Limited and the Union Ministry in the court had left the Delhi Government in a state of shock. ``It had been decided to take a common stand before the court on the issue. But Mr. Naik's sudden U-turn, despite the directions issued by the Prime Minister, Mr.Atal Behari Vajpayee, clearly indicates that the Centre was not sincere,'' a senior official remarked.

Mr. Hashmi said it was the Centre which had urged the Delhi Government to restrict the number of CNG vehicles and discourage registration of private CNG vehicles. At that time, it had expressed its inability to cater to the demand for CNG for such a large fleet. Therefore, it was decided that this plea would be put before the court and some direction be sought. But strangely, the Centre counsel went back on the assurance given to the Delhi Government and presented a totally different picture.

It is believed that with Supreme Court not relenting on allowing registration of non-CNG vehicles, the influx on CNG vehicles would increase substantially and the queues outside the CNG stations is expected to grow. Coupled with this, the assertion of IGL that it would not be in a position to come up with any more CNG mother filling stations before March 31, the situation is expected to take a turn for the worse. Mr. Hashmi also informed that a notification had been issued extending till January 31, the special permits of all those vehicles which had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court.

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