Resistance from the diesel lobby and lack of support from the government are out to sabotage the Supreme Court orders to move the buses, auto and taxis to CNG. It is only because of the strong stand taken by the Chief Justice bench that some progress is being made.

Instead of building up consumer confidence in the CNG market, the government and industry alike have tried their best to propagate myths about CNG to mislead people. Even biased expert comments have been flaunted to discredit the move to bring in CNG. Without explaining the public health benefits expected out of the CNG strategy, administrative lapses and technical snags have all been mixed up to create confusion about CNG technology. Instead of taking pride in the fact that one of the largest CNG programmes of the world has been launched in Delhi, efforts are being made not to let it happen. Despite the opposition, Delhi today boasts of more than 2,200 CNG buses, 25,000 CNG three-wheelers, 6,000 CNG taxis and 10,000 CNG cars.

International experience shows that moving to any new technology is always beset with hurdles, primarily opposition from entrenched business interests. But other governments have taken strong proactive approaches to counter such opposition, and raise public awareness. A notable example is the public notification that was issued by the US Department of Energy to separate myths from facts about CNG when similar barbs were hurled at it in the US. To counter what it calls 'industry folklore', the US Department of Energy issued the notification, entitled Natural Gas Buses: Separating Myth from Fact, in April 2000. The release deals with every issue that is confusing Delhi's decisionmakers: cost, effect on global warming, safety, and health effects of nanoparticles or ultra-fine particles from CNG. "It becomes very difficult for people to understand the benefits of an alternative fuel programme if they are confronted with misinformation or poor comparisons based on false assumptions," points out the notification.

Similarly in Delhi, ever since the Supreme Court orders have come into effect, there has been a spate of statements from government officials, politicians, some experts and by the media on CNG. We were amazed at the level of misinformation that prevailed and incompetence of authorities and the scientific community to clear this confusion. We therefore felt the need to put together facts about CNG to expose the myths propagated by those in the service of polluters.
Link to the myths content page

Report of CSE panel of experts - May 2001
Implementation of the Supreme Court orders to move the public transport to CNG is critical to clean up Delhi's air. Yet at no point did the government think it fit to investigate and assess the new technology, evaluate the infrastructure facilities and monitor enforcement of safety rules to allay fears.

Sensing that one of the most important strategies to control air pollution was at risk of getting derailed, CSE decided to look into the matter on its own. But such an assessment would need very good technical expertise with wide experience in CNG technology. In view of the fact that very little expertise was available in the country to take up a technical evaluation of this nature we scouted for international experts with long and diverse experience who would understand both CNG and diesel heavy-duty vehicle technologies.

We immediately contacted Michael P Walsh, international consultant on vehicular technology, for guidance to select experts who would be able to undertake an assessment of the available CNG technology and prevalent emissions and safety regulations for us. With his help we identified some of the best experts with long years of experience in alternative fuel technology. The team comprised the following:

They agreed to undertake this study for us and spent about 10 days in the month of May, 2001 in India to do an evaluation of CNG technology. They visited a number of agencies to see for themselves the available CNG technology and the regulations in force.
Their conclusion - "Having visited and interviewed the main actors involved and having reviewed the applicable documentation, we are unanimous in our view that the principal programme elements required to implement the CNG bus programme in Delhi appear to be in place, and that this programme appears poised for outstanding success. This is an accomplishment of which the world will take notice, and in which the principal agencies and persons involved can rightly take great pride. This programme can serve as an outstanding example for other cities and nations of a successful transition to CNG".


Factsheet on CNG - February 2001
Is the Delhi government serious about moving the public transport to CNG? While more and more countries across the world are taking the natural gas path to clean up the dirty air, the Union and the Delhi governments are busy finding out lame excuses to cover up their inaction. But the global scenario presents a contrasting picture. Sensing the market potential, even vehicle manufacturers are coming up with new models of cars and buses and trucks either dedicated to run on CNG or on bi-fuel. The factsheet puts available information in perspective.

Factsheet on Diesel - September 1999
The Governor of Tokyo, Japan, is running a campaign to ban diesel. Diesel vehicles are finding it extremely difficult to meet stringent emission norms in California. The Netherlands plans to introduce gaseous fuels on a large scale to phase out diesel. If diesel is so good then why are governments across the world taking action against it?

Engines of the devil - May 1999
Want to buy a diesel car to keep your oil bill low? Think again. You may end up trading your life for cheap and toxic diesel.
As companies go for a hard sell of diesel cars, dieselmania grips you too. What was supposed to be cheap fuel for the poor farmers is now driving the cars of the rich. Do not choose to ignore the fact that diesel fumes trigger cancer and pose serious threat to public health. Delhi is already reeling under high particulate pollution. Studies also show that neither improving diesel quality nor upgrading engine technology can help to avert the threat posed by toxic particulate emissions. The cleaner the diesel, the tinier the particulate matter, and higher the cancer-causing potential. More private diesel cars on road simply negate the spirit of the Supreme Court orders steering a large part of public transport fleet away from use of diesel to a cleaner fuel like CNG to control air pollution in Delhi. The only option therefore is to ban private diesel cars.