Noida air thick with pollutants: Suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the residential areas of Noida has almost doubled than the level permitted. "The SPM in residential sectors was in the range of 420 to 454 micro gram per cubic metre during January-April against the standard limit of 200 micro gram per cubic metre," said R K Singh, regional manager of Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 9/5/2005

Bangalore among most polluted cities in India: Vehicular air pollution in Bangalore is in the spotlight once again. In his book titled 'Urban Vehicular Pollution Control - Focus Bangalore', author T.M. Ameer Ahmed has categorised the city among the ''most polluted'' in India. A study of Air Quality Indices for city roads by Ahmed show that Mysore Road, Avenue Road, Tumkur Road and KG Road are the most polluted and need immediate relief. At a lower level of pollution yet needing immediate attention are Anand Road Circle, Hosur Road, JC Road, Magadi Road and Bellary Road. Nrupatunga Road and Cunningham Road are also figure on the polluted list.
Source: The New Indian Express, New Delhi, 26/4/2005

Pollution level touches new high in Faridabad: The air pollution level in this industrial city of the North India seems to have touched a new high with the suspended particle matter (SPM) level crossing 18,000 points against the permissible limit of 500. This revelation has sent shivers down the spine of the residents here who appear to be helpless as there is hardly any effort to check pollution. The city was already in the nine most-polluted cities of the country. 'The SPM level of the atmosphere in certain parts of the town and district have crossed the permissible limit and at some spots it has gone above almost by 30 to 38 times of the permissible level, thus putting at grave risk the lives of a large number of population and other living beings'.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 30/4/2005

Cocktail of air pollution’ in north Chennai: Over four years after the Ennore port came into existence to take over the handling of coal and iron ore cargo from the Chennai port, there has been little respite for the residents of north Chennai from what they describe as the "cocktail of air pollution." Though around nine million tonnes of thermal coal handled in 2001 by the Chennai port for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has been moved to Ennore, the iron ore handling continues. But what is causing concern to the residents is that the Chennai port handles thermal and coking coal meant for other user industries in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Chennai Port Trust today announced that it handled nearly 7.5 million tonnes of the two varieties of coal in 2004-05, as against 3.20 MT the previous fiscal, while the iron ore volume was 9.6 MT (9.48 MT).
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 7/4/2005

For Maruti diesel cars, wait till 2007: Maruti Udyog is exiting the diesel car market for now by discontinuing the production of the diesel variant of Zen this month. It had recently stopped producing the diesel Esteem. Maruti Udyog sells over 500 units of Zen diesel and 100-200 units of the diesel Esteem in a month. Maruti's agreement with Peugeot of France for import of diesel engines has ended. However, the company has announced plans to manufacture 1 lakh diesel engines per annum at a new facility in Gurgaon by 2007. The last batch of 500 units of Zen diesel has rolled out this month.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 19/5/2005

IOC commission’s diesel hydro treater at Mathura Refinery: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) has commissioned the Rs 1,046-crore diesel hydro-treating unit (DHDT) at the Mathura Refinery to facilitate supply of Euro-III equivalent quality diesel. According to the company, "The commissioning of the DHDT unit thus marks a new chapter in harnessing technological advancements to improve the quality of life. With this, the refinery has emerged as the first to attain the capability of producing entire quantity of diesel conforming to Euro-III equivalent."
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 5/5/2005

Diesel cheaper by Rs 1.80/l, LPG relief on anvil: The Delhi Government may have to resort to an amendment in its VAT Act to bring down the taxes on LPG to 8% from 12.5%. The amendment is expected to be brought in through an ordinance. Tax rates on diesel, which had been increased to 20%, are to be slashed to 12.5%. Result: Consumers in the capital can take it easy on their fuel bills.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 28/4/2005

Slow sales of Euro III vehicles: Blame VAT: There has been a 80-90 per cent fall in sales of ultra low sulphur diesel (Euro-III grade diesel) in the Capital after implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) regime from April 1. The Delhi Petrol Pump Dealers Association (DPPD) have presented before Finance Minister Dr A K Walia, stressing that there has been a 80-90 per cent fall in sales of ultra low sulphur diesel. The association has been demanding non-implement of the uniform floor rate on diesel as it is causing a great loss to the petrol pumps, which switched over to Euro-III grade of diesel.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 20/4/2005

New emission norms lead to shakeout in diesel car segment: The changeover to the more stringent Bharat Stage III emission norm for passenger cars, which came into effect from April 1, has quietly led to a shakeout in the diesel passenger car segment. The new norms are so severe that quite a few of the existing diesel cars will not meet the standards. As a result, companies such as Maruti Udyog and Ford India have had to alter the strategies for their diesel-driven vehicles. The cost of developing and converting the existing diesel engine to meet the more rigorous emission standard is too high to be justified by the sales contributions of these models.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 6/4/2005

Emit' more money for Euro III cars: Beginning April, only Euro III compliant cars will be registered by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), which are slightly more expensive than Euro II cars. The directive comes from the state transport department and is part of the Euro III emission norms to be implemented in Ahmedabad city from April 1, following directives from the Supreme Court to bring down air pollution.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 28/3/2005

Emission norms run on old fuel: The benefits of Bharat Stage III emission norms, which will be enforced in Delhi from April 1, may be lost because there are not upgraded and compatible fuels. Experts say pollution will not decrease much because the fuels supplied to Delhi has not yet been upgraded. Unleaded and other kinds of petrol and ultra-low sulphur diesel are available in Delhi. Experts at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), and NGO, said these fuels would not work best with the new vehicles. "Delhiites may not yet be able to breath easy, as the new norms will not make a marked difference on reducing pollution in the absence of upgraded and compatible fuels," a CSE Official said.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 1/4/2005

CNG/LPG
3,000 gas vehicles use LPG cylinders: Madurai, which has more than 3000 vehicles fitted with gas conversion units, duly endorsed by the regional transport office, plying on the roads, does not have a gas filling station. The vehicles therefore use domestic gas cylinders in violation of the Explosives Act, says a study by the Gas Users Protection Council. The district administration issues press notes with warnings against the use of LPG, but action against these rickshaws, which are compared to a 'ticking bomb' is almost nil.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 18/5/2005

Greener gas for homes, vehicles in five years: The public sector Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) hopes to supply piped natural gas (PNG) for use in households in Bangalore within four years, Gail Director (Business Development) B S Negi said. By 2009, pipelines will connect Kochi, with Bangalore through Palakkad and Coimbatore and Kochi with Mangalore by 2009, Mr Negi said.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 11/4/2005

Call to focus on different sources of alternate fuel: Experts have said that India needs to have a sound alternate fuel strategy and should focus on different sources of alternate fuel rather than a single source like CNG (compressed natural gas). "The country’s fuel strategy should not be technology specific, it should be outcome based," said Dr A.N. Bansal, Senior Transport Planner, World Bank, while speaking here at a seminar organised by the Hyderabad based-Administrative Staff College of India. "While CNG may have been a success story, there is a need to keep in mind the latest advancements which could offer more benefits. For example, California is now witnessing huge demand for vehicles with hybrid engines that can function with gasoline and electricity," he said.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 15/4/2005

Vijayawada to get first CNG unit: Putting the `go green` mantra into practice, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), through their joint venture company Bhagyalakshmi Gas Limited (BGL), are setting up a compressed natural gas (CNG) dispensing unit in Vijayawada. The project, the first such in South India, is a major step towards the development of clean fuel infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh as it would distribute and market natural gas, CNG, piped gas and auto LPG. This comes against the backdrop of CNG becoming an instant success with public and private transporters in Mumbai, Delhi and Baroda. Says HPCL chief manager Anand Raju Datta, "The companies have chosen Vijayawada ahead of Hyderabad due to the already existing GAIL gas pipeline from Rajhamundry to Kondapalli. The unit would be ready by June."
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 1/4/2005

CNG train on track to Rewari: The much-awaited final stage in the trial run of the Indian Railways' project for using CNG in diesel locomotives was flagged off today. At this stage, a pilot project has been planned in which one rake with 14 coaches will move between Delhi and Rewari. ''For the time being, we are planning to move one rake with passengers on the Delhi-Rewari route for around 15 days during which we will ensure it is 100 pc safe,'' said Dr P.K. Goel, Divisional Railway Manager. Once this trial is successful, we plan to move it on a regular basis on the same route, added Goel. To start from Monday, the DEMU run will also cover Shamli and Rohtak.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 10/4/2005

Reva to develop fuel cell cars for IOC pilot project: Reva Electric Car Company Pvt Ltd (RECC) has signed an agreement with Canadian-based Hydrogenics Corporation to develop fuel cell hydrogen cars for a future pilot project by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). RECC will use its electric vehicle technology to develop fuel cell hydrogen cars with fuel cell stacks to be supplied by Hydrogenics Corporation. In the first phase, two fuel cell hydrogen-powered cars will be developed, after which a fleet of 10-20 cars will be rolled out at other heritage destinations. "The cars are part of a pilot project that will be launched by Indian Oil Corp to promote eco-tourism in India," a press statement quoted the RECC chairman, Mr Sudarshan Maini, as saying. "The cars will be used for the hydrogen clean technology project in New Delhi and at the Taj Mahal, in Agra."
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 13/4/2005

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Bangalore Metro takes the first formal step for its dream plan: The much-awaited Bangalore metro rail project has finally got off the ground. Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited (BMRTL) has begun the tendering process thus taking the first formal step towards making the project a reality. The national pre-qualification bid for civil works and a global bid for the appointment of general consultant for the project have been floated, BMRTL Managing director K.N. Srivastava said. The civil works tender for the seven-kilometre stretch between M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and Byappanahalli, was floated a few days ago. The last date for participating is April 15, he added. The global general consultant tender was floated.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 31/3/2005

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