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With 18 days to go, it's back to basics |
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The Bhure Lal Committee, a five member panel,
headed by Food Corporation of India Bhure Lal, has to re-examine the process of conversion
of diesel vehicles into CNG. It has to examine the process from the emission as well as
the safety viewpoints. Said environmentalist, Anil Aggarwal, "The panel had in its
earlier report clarified it is not against conversion, but against bad conversion which
does not meet emission and safety standards."
The Times of India, New Delhi, 29th September, 2001 |
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What the SC order really means |
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The Supreme Court extended till October 18 the
deadline for completing Delhi's 10,000-bus fleet into single fuel CNG mode.Experts say the
Supreme Court is hinting at a gradual phasing out of old vehicles.With Friday's order, the
Supreme Court has also given itself time to think. Anil Aggarwal, chairperson of the
Centre for Science and Environment, said: " The court obviously did not want to push
its order without understanding the ground realities."
The Times of India, New Delhi, 29th September, 2001 |
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Expert sees plot behind CNG issue |
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Asserting that the opposition to the
implementation of the Supreme Court order on the public transport vehicles and CNG has
been "enormous and well orchestrated", the Centre for Science and Environment
said: "The problem is not CNG, but its implementation".
The Hindu, New Delhi, 29th September, 2001 |
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They fail to see eye to eye |
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It's a clear divide. The CNG versus diesel
debate has been fought on TV screens, in seminar rooms and in print as well. And the two
main NGOs-the Centre for Science and Environment and the Tata Energy Research Institute
differ on virtually every point.
The Times of India, New Delhi, 28th September, 2001 |
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CNG hopes to go up in smoke once again |
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Another deadline for using compressed natural
gas (CNG) in public transportation in Delhi has arrived with none of the crucial issues
resolved. Though Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit claimed Rs 1,000 crore have been spent on
conversion, environmentalists question this. "There has been consistent effort to
derail the process. The Court will have to put its foot down again," says Centre for
Science and Environment director Sunita Narain.
The Times of India, New Delhi, 28th September, 2001 |
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Time's running out |
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As the deadline for all commercial vehicles in
Delhi to switch over to clean fuel draws near, a sense of urgency is creeping in among the
parties concerned. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Ram Naik agrees with the Delhi
Government's contention that there were no CNG experts in the committee, which comprised
the then transport commissioner Kiran Dhingra, Pollution Control Board chairman
D.K.Biswas, Maruti Udyog CMD Jagdish Khattar, and Centre for Science and Environment
director Anil Aggarwal. The committee had recommended the use of CNG as the only clean
fuel for Delhi's commercial vehicles.
Business India, Mumbai, 3-16th September ,2001 |
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Pvt vehicles entitled to CNG supply, say experts |
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Can the government prevent non-commercial
vehicles from not filling their vehicles with CNG? Going by expert opinion, no. Says,
Director, Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain : "It is our fundamental
duty to protect the environment. Not allowing someone to fill CNG in his vehicle would be
preventing the vehicle-owner from performing his duty."
The Times of India, New Delhi, 25th September, 2001 |
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Private vehicles to run out of gas |
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The city of Delhi gets only 0.15 million cubic
metres of CNG-out of 33.4 mcum gas available in the pipeline-for CNG vehicles. Delhi's
allocation is a nominal 3.08 mcum. That's not all. "Of the total allocation, a major
chunk has been devoted to the Pragati power station, which, is yet to see the light of the
day," said Centre for Science and Environment Director Sunita
Narain.
The Times of India, New Delhi, 24th September, 2001 |
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Cleaning up the air |
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According to a report by Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE), vehicular pollution contributes to a shocking 64 per cent of the total
pollution in Delhi, 52 per cent in Mumbai and 30 per cent in Calcutta.
The Statesman, New Delhi, 17th September, 2001 |
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The CNG conundrum |
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Delhi awaits with trepidation the September 30
deadline for the conversion of its public transport vehicles to the CNG mode. Moreover,
various representations given to the EPCA by the State and Central Governments,
transporters' associations, expert bodies such as the Tata Energy Research Institute
(TERI) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, on the one hand and the Centre for
Science and Environment (CSE) on the other have made things murkier.
Frontline, Chennai, 14th September, 2001 |
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CNG crisis haunts Mumbai's cabbies too |
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Environmentalists who favour the use of CNG
over other alternatives say it is the cleanest fuel. Data put out by the Centre for
Science and Environment, Delhi, states that CNG is 92 per cent more methane, which burns
more efficiently. Environmental groups monitoring pollution in Mumbai say there has been a
sharp fall in suspended particulate matter (SPM), an indicator of pollution, since cabs
converted to CNG
pollution.
Central Chronicle, Bhopal, 10th Sptember, 2001 |
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Running on empty ideas |
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Anil Agarwal, the chairperson of the
Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment has written an article that appeared in The
Indian Express where he questions Ram Naik's seriousness about an auto fuels policy. He
says that "Union Minister for Petroleum and natural gas, Ram Naik, does not believe
that pollution or public health is an issue for governance."
The Indian Express, New Delhi, 10th September, 2001 |
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Which is the best |
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Even as the debate over CNG vehicle rages, the
search for alternative fuels continues. In comparison to CNG, conversion to LPG is
cheaper, costing between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000. But if you hope to drive around with the
cooking gas cylinder, then beware of the risks. Says Anumita Roychowdhury, coordinator,
Centre for Science and Environment: "A domestic gas cylinder is not meant for use
while moving.Though the pressure hazard is less than with CNG, the fuel is extremely
volatile and burns twice as hot as petrol fire."
Business World, Kolkata, 3rd September, 2001 |
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Delhi's big drive against diesel starts to run out
of gas |
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Delhi is
the most polluted city in the world in terms of suspended particulate matter, according to
the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), an independent New Delhi think-tank. Burning
any hydrocarbon produces minute particles in the air that can cause cancer and other
health problems. However, conventional diesel fuel when burned is 100 times more
carcinogenic than CNG, according to figures from the CSE.
Financial Times, London, 27th August, 2001 |
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NGO trashes myths on green fuel |
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Compressed natural gas does
not cause cancer and it is the safest fuel, asserted an environmental group while trying
to dispel "myths" surronding the gas. In an exhuastive report, the New
Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment said the fuel was a much cleaner option
than made out and rebutted various arguements against CNG.
The Asian Age, New Delhi, 24th August, 2001 |
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Any takers for suggestions |
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"The MRTH (Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways) has set very poor emission norms for CNG vehicles, which do
not help the city of Delhi get the full benefits of moving to CNG and allow very poor
technology to come on to the roads," says Dr Anil Agarwal, Chairperson, Centre for
Science and Environment.
The Pioneer, New Delhi, 24th August, 2001 |
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CNG conversion makes a dent into
revenue collection |
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The continued drop in
consumption of diesel and related petroleum products due to hastened pace of commercial
and private vehicles switching to eco-friendly CNG fuel is expected to have a cascading
effect on revenue collections of the Delhi Government which is already reeling under a Rs.
300 crore cut in Central assistance.
The Hindu, New Delhi, 24th August, 2001 |
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Gas station to be restored in 2
weeks |
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Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) assured that the
gas-run compressor that caught fire at the Sarai Kale Khan gas station would be restored
in two weeks.The Centre for Science and Environment has criticised the poor safety
measures for CNG vehicles.
The Indian Express, New Delhi, 23rd August, 2001 |
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No fear of CNG supply crisis, says Indraprastha |
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Ms Anumita Roy Chowdhury, an
air pollution expert with the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi based
environment NGO, said, "It has been observed that the present tendency is to create a
fear of scarcity of CNG."
The Asian Age, New Delhi, 1st May, 2001 |
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CNG accidents revive debate on cleaner fuel option |
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The Center for Science and Environment, which
has been very vocal about the benefits of CNG says "disinformation" was being
spread about CNG.
The Asian Age, New Delhi, 29th April, 2001 |
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Chaos on Delhi's roads |
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The diesel lobby has
launched a whispering campaign that CNG is responsible for releasing tiny particles in the
atmosphere which can lodge in the lungs and cause severe problems. They conveniently omit
to mention that this is precisely what environmental groups like the Centre for Science
and Environment have been alleging about diesel.
Newstime, Hyderabad, 19th April, 2001 |
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Americans supported the CNG campaign for cleaner air |
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Refusing to get involved in the debate over the
merits of one fuel over another, CSE chief Anil Agarwal said: "To my mind entering
into a debate over whether Compressed Natural Gas was the right alternative is anti
national because the highest court of the land has already given its verdict on the
issue."
The Indian Express, New Delhi, 18th April, 2001 |
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Green and bear it |
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With Delhi's high pollution levels, drastic
steps are needed to prevent children dying from breathing foul air, says Anil Agarwal,
Director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
India Today, New Delhi, April 16th 2001 |
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Where do we get CNG out of Delhi, ask tour operators |
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The Supreme Court had asked the Bhure Lal
Committee to examine if diesel containing 0.05 per cent of sulphur could be considered as
a clean fuel. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whose director Anil Aggarwal
is also a member of the committee, has rejected ULSD.
The Indian Express, New Delhi, 11th April, 2001 |
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Indian cities fighting for clean air |
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Chandrachur Ghose, researcher at the Centre for
Science and Environment says that "Though many cities have not done much on
controlling pollution, yet some are waking up to the pollution threat and a lot of locals
have taken to courts."
Central Chronicle, Bhopal, 9th April, 2001 |
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Wakeup to the dangers of pollution |
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| Tavleen Singh quotes Anil Agarwal as saying
"Fundamentally, it is the fault of the Delhi Government but, yes, there is a shortage
of CNG, and that is the responsibility of the Central Government". The
Sentinel,Guwahati, 9th April, 2001 |
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CNG buses failed in Houston |
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Chief Minister of Delhi Shiela Dikshit says
Anil Aggarwal has been pushing for CNG, and it was probably on the basis of his inputs to
the Bhure Lal Committee that CNG was presented to the court as a clean fuel".
The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 8th April, 2001 |
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New improved diesel matches CNG emission standards |
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| The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
has accused TERI of attempting to resurrect the 'diesel versus CNG' debate to create
confusion and delay implementation of the Supreme Court order. The Telegraph,
Calcutta, 8th April 2001 |
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All for a whiff of clean air |
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The Supreme Court's decision of mandatory
transformation of all diesel buses to compressed natural gas mode has led to among other
chaotic things-a crossing of swords between two leading environment groups, Tata Energy
Research Institute (TERI) and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 8th April, 2001 |
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Clean fuel, stranded city |
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The arson and rioting by
angry Delhi commuters during the first week of April, 2001 because of shortage of public
transport was inevitable. It was brought on by the Centre and Delhi Governments, even
after the expiry of the Supreme Court imposed March 31 deadline for the conversion of
public transport into CNG. Anil Aggarwal of Centre for Science and Environment and member
of the Bhure Lal Committee constituted by the Supreme Court to look into the matter of CNG
along with other members gave the consent for the CNG technology.
The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 8th April, 2001 |
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