SMOG DIGEST ARCHIVES

• Air Pollution in Cities
• Fuel and vehicle technology
• Alternative Fuels
• Biofuels
• In-use vehicles
• Transportation & Traffic
• National & Local Policy Initiatives
• In Court
• Adulteration
• South Asia

Diesel engine coaxed to run on LPG blend: Four mechanical engineering students of Sri Jagadguru Chandrasekharanatha Swamiji Institute of Technology in Bangalore have successfully run a diesel engine on a diesel-LPG mixture. As part of their project work, the team comprising Rohit Anand, Ravi Shankar S, Rohan R.G and Sachin S.K took up work on a single cylinder four-stroke diesel engine employing an LPG-diesel blend. Lecturer P. Rukhmangadha guided the students in their journey. Evaluating the performance of the engine using LPG and diesel mixture in a 60:40 ratio for more than an hour, they realised that savings from the modified fuel be as high as 50 per cent.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 29/6/2004

Doubts aired over Euro II: The combination of stricter tailpipe emission norms, to be introduced from October 1, and mandatory Euro II for new vehicles is not going to help the lungs of Kolkata. That’s what Sunita Narain, director of Centre for Science and Environment and one of the spearheads of Delhi’s air clean-up drive, has told environment minister Manab Mukherjee. "We are aware that Euro II won’t be a permanent solution, but at least it’s a step in the right direction," says Mukherjee. On tailpipe emission norms, he agrees that a fuel shift must be the aim. Narain, in town for a British Council workshop for environmental journalists, says: "The major vehicular pollution-related problems of Calcutta are respirable particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. These cannot be monitored with the new emission standards."
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 3/7/2004

Petrol, diesel to cost more in UP: Petrol and diesel would soon be dearer by 30 paisa and 21 paisa per litre respectively as the State Government has hiked the Trade Tax on the two petroleum products from 20 to 21 percent. This would fetch additional revenue of Rs 94 crore per year.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 21/7/2004

BPCL to invest Rs 1,200 crore to make Euro-IV fuel: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) plans to invest Rs 1,200 crore towards producing auto fuel compliant with Euro-IV emission norms. The refinery is currently undertaking expansion of the refinery capacity to 12 million tonnes.
Source: Business Line, Nepal, 29/7/2004

Rising diesel pollution a threat to the Capital: Welcoming the Delhi Government’s move to impose an environment cess on diesel passenger cars and multi-utility vehicles and the proposed increase in the sales tax on diesel in the budget, the Centre for Science and Environment has criticised the "motivated" designs of various stakeholders to "scuttle these moves for short-sighted business gains". Speaking about the opposition by the petrol pump owners across the city, the CSE Director, Sunita Narain, said, "The Central Government does not have the gumption to take up the powerful automobile lobby, but the Delhi Government to that extent has taken up the issue of clean air. They have given a clear message -- that polluting fuel is taxed while clean fuel is not."
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 29/7/2004

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Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Delhi: Light goods vehicles may switch to CNG: After the positive results on the environment front following the switchover of public transport vehicles to the eco-friendly CNG, the Delhi Government is now contemplating making it compulsory for light goods vehicles in the Capital to switch over to CNG as well from next year. The move is likely to coincide with the proposed switchover to Euro III norms from April 2005. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) set up by the Supreme Court for the National Capital Region (NCR) has made a recommendation in this connection to the Delhi Government.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 29/6/2004

Lucknow: First phase of CNG supply in city by Nov: GAIL: Divisional Commissioner D C Lakha has directed the transport department officials to phase out vehicles that have outlived their lives. President over a high-level meeting, the commissioner said that a multi-purpose strategy should be implemented to make Lucknow pollution free. Lakha stated that Euro-II norms should be enforced in registration of vehicles.
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 10/6/2004

Deadline for introduction of CNG fixed: Lucknowites will soon have the option to get their fuel tanks filled with alternative fuels as Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority has fixed December 31, 2005, as the deadline to convert 1,500 tempo/taxi, 200 buses/minibuses and 40 auto-rickshaws running on Lucknow roads to be on CNG. "Do not waste time, time is precious. Emulate Delhi model and all your problems will be over," stated Sunita Narain while narrating her experience of championing the cause of cleaner air for National Capital Region.
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 11/6/2004

Gail hopes to implement national gas grid project: Even as the government is yet to announce the gas pipeline policy, public sector gas major Gail India Ltd is hopeful that it will get the entire rights for implementing the Rs 23,000 crore national gas grid comprising pipeline projects covering 8,000 kms. Addressing a news conference in the capital, Gail chairman and managing director Proshanto Banerjee claimed that his company has the support of as many 17 oil and gas companies for its "right" to implement the national gas grid.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 16/7/2004

CNG for the city: Tell us who is the one gassing: The enthusiasm - which the Gujarat Pollution Control Board had induced when it announced the inauguration of the first CNG station at the Memco cross-roads on July 15 - has typically turned into a saga of endless wait with no clear date in sight as to when this station will become operational. The Adani Group, which is responsible for laying the pipelines for CNG stations in the city, still has to lay two km of pipeline from Arvind Mills to the Memco Cross-roads, President Gas Business, Adani, Rajeev Sharma refuses to set any deadline for it.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 25/7/2004

After Delhi, UP to go in for CNG: After Delhi, it’s time for Uttar Pradesh to shift to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Four cities, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bareilly including Agra, will shift to the CNG-fuelled public transport system in the first phase. Being close to Delhi and constantly in the world’s eyes due to the pollution threat to the Taj Mahal, Agra will be among the first to shift to the environment-friendly fuel.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 26/7/2004

New mixture of CNG fuel to be developed: The Research and Development Centre of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) here has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the private sector to develop a hydrogen-CNG mixture system for the IC engines to be used in portable gensets, buses and three-wheeler autorickshaws.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 30/7/2004

Delhi: Dikshit now plans to get private cars in CNG mode: After putting the public transport in the capital on the CNG mode, the Delhi government is planning to push it further and apply it on private vehicles as well. The transport department has been asked to prepare a scheme for the conversion plan. In an informal chat with journalists a day after the Budget proposals were passed on Friday, chief minister Sheila Dikshit said all efforts would be made to discourage polluting vehicles in Delhi.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 31/7/2004

Gail urges States to cut sales tax on natural gas: GAIL (India) Ltd has approached all the State Governments for reduction/exemption of sales taxes in a bid to make natural gas prices competitive. Currently, most States levies sales tax on natural gas at 20 per cent on an ad valorem basis. As a result, the tariffs for gas are close to equivalent to about $4.6 per million British thermal units (mmbtu). Gail, currently, sources its gas from Qatar’s Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd (RasGas).
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 3/8/2004

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
Bangalore: Government’s LPG conversion drive hits roadblock: With autorickshaw owners refusing to convert their three-wheelers to LPG fuel mode, the Karnataka Government’s efforts to check increasing levels of vehicular pollution in Bangalore City seem to have run into a wall. The Transport Department recently issued an order directing all autorickshaw owners in the city to change over to the eco-friendly fuel by the end of 2005. The order would come into effect in a phased manner and, depending on their make, vehicles will need to be converted by 2005 end.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 15/6/2004

On LPG, the ride’s smooth yet bumpy: The West Bengal transport department has passed an order about a year ago, making the switch mandatory for all autos to get registration. Now, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board figures reveal that around 230 autos - mostly new, some old - are plying the roads fuelled by LPG.
Source: The Telegraph, Calcutta, 19/6/2004

LPG boon for Bangalore two-wheelers: Two-wheeler owners may no longer need to worry about the ever-increasing petrol prices. Like autorickshaw and car owners, they too can convert their vehicles to the eco-friendly Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). A city-based automobile dealer, SLV Enterprises, has come out with a compact LPG kit for two-wheelers. The manufacturer claims the ‘City Kit’ is cheaper, economical and safer. The system was successfully tested on motorbikes and scooters.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 21/6/2004

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First bio-diesel plant to come up near Kakinada: India’s first bio-diesel plant is coming up near Kakinada, thanks to the thrust given to bio-diesel crops by the new Government to benefit farmers in "rain- shadow areas" where no other crop grows. The plant is being set up at an outlay of Rs. 135 crores by Naturol BioEnergy India in collaboration with Energea GmbH of Austria and Fe Clean Energy Group Inc, US, on a 50-acre land in the Vakalapundi industrial area being given through the APIIDC. The plant will have an initial capacity of 300 tonnes per day and for this, the crop will be taken up on 1.2 lakh acres in different districts.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 18/6/2004

Karnataka in top gear to promote bio-fuel crops: The Horticulture department of Karnataka is in a makeover mood. From merely being a provider of agricultural inputs, it is now looking at addressing critical issues vital for the growth of the state’s horticulture sector. It is even looking at promoting the cultivation of bio-fuel crops. Leading auto manufacturers like Daimler Chrysler have envinced interest in bio-fuels, which are non-polluting and environment-friendly.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 2/7/2004

Tamil Nadu: Large-scale cultivation of jatropha crop planned: The Tamil Nadu government proposes to launch a scheme to promote large-scale cultivation of jatropha and sweet sorghum crops and has invited corporates to set up downstream units for processing these crops for the manufacture of bio-fuel and ethanol. Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said she would have an interactive session with the stakeholders - farmers, industrial houses and entrepreneurs in August. The programme was aimed at transforming the rural economy, to provide employment opportunities to agriculture labour and the rural poor, Jayalalithaa said in a statement.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai, 3/7/2004

Bio-diesel: Kanuga to be cultivated on large scale: Gearing itself to take up large-scale cultivation of Pongamia, popularly known as Kanuga whose oil is extracted and used as bio diesel, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department in raising three crore Pongamia seedlings in its 2,000-odd nurseries in the state. They will be distributed among the Vana Samrakshana Samithis for plantation especially in the rain shadow areas across the State.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 8/7/2004

Central aid sought for bio-oil: The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, urged the Central Government to provide adequate financial assistance to the farmers engaged in the cultivation of Jatropha and smooth leaved popularly known as karanja being used to produce bio-oil to run diesel engines and tractors.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 27/7/2004

Gujarat Oleo Chem bags Rs 25-crore biodiesel order from IOC: In what could be a path-breaking private sector initiative in promoting biofuels, Gujarat Oleo Chem Ltd (GOCL), which has bagged an order for supply of biodiesel worth Rs 25 crore to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), delivered its first consignment to the latter. The significance of the development lays in the fact that for the first time in the country, a private company has successfully exploited the vegetable oil route to produce biodiesel for supply to a Government parastatal. GOCL is using castor oil as feedstock for production of biodiesel. Crude castor oil is refined and biodiesel is produced through the process of esterification and transesterification. Vegetable oil is a renewable source of energy; its production is sustainable and its use in automobile fuels is eco-friendly.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 4/8/2004

AP decides to encourage ethanol plants: The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to promote establishment of 10 to 12 units of ethanol production plants that would use the sweet sorghum varieties developed by the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat). The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who visited Icrisat, said that there was lot of scope for production of ethanol from the sweet sorghum varieties developed by the institute. Hence, a decision was taken to encourage entrepreneurs to set up ethanol production plants in the State.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 4/8/2004

Hydrogen/electric
Electric rickshaw on the way!: The autorickshaw that switched from petrol to CNG may go electric! Such news snippets have appeared frequently, giving a temporary cheer to environmentalists and a shock to the powerful automobile industry wedded to petrol. However, this time the talk of an electric rickshaw seems serious as a small innovative American company has joined hands with India’s Bajaj. If the anti-petrol three-wheeler starts plying, it will be the most significant product coming out of the Indo-US business partnership. The Washington Post has flashed a photo of a production model of the electric rickshaw. The Post writer wonders whether the unimposing Bajaj-New Generation Motors vehicle holds the secret to powering American automobile for years to come. The innovators should pray for the petrol prices doubling! Having played havoc with its polluting two-stroke scooter engine for years, Bajaj has given up its old ways in the face of a tough competition.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 20/6/2004

Pollution-free solar vans for Shimla soon: Solar-powered mini-vans will soon ply on the roads of Shimla. "I have instructed the Himachal Pradesh State Transport Corporation to carry out a feasibility study on the restricted roads," said State transport minister G S Bali. The 10-seat solar driven vans will run on these routes, he said.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 2/8/2004

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New Gizmos for pollution check: After almost a decade, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, headed by Dr LU Joshi, has set into operation a full-fledged laboratory for analysing pollution parameters as prescribed under the Central Pollution Control Board. Till date the laboratory was able to analyse a total of 31 parameters out of the 40 prescribed.
Source: Herald, Panjim, 7/6/2004

An unfit vehicle fitness centre: The Burari transport fitness checking centre is still living in Stone Age when it comes to applying technology. There is no equipment for checking the fitness of a vehicle, old files pile up in a dusty record room and there is not even an enquiry counter. The only 21st century thing present are the numerous touts. The results are there for everyone to see. Buses with squealing breaks, banned pressure horns, torn seats and peeling paint and autos with faulty meters lie at the centre. Indeed, problems at the root are hardly ever addressed. The Burari centre is a prime example -- it is disorganised, there are few equipment and mostly a visual inspection for fitness of vehicles is carried out.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 23/6/2004

Ban on heavy vehicles from entering city: Come July and Amdavadis, especially those living in the fringe areas, would breathe easy. At least during the daytime. The city police commissioner, K R Kaushik, has imposed a ban on entry of heavy vehicles like trucks and trailers in the city limits. A communiqué issued by Kaushik said that the move under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 is aimed at reducing air pollution within the city and also to smoothen the traffic flow.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 23/6/2004

Illegal tempos go ‘unnoticed’ in Kanpur: The decision to identify illegally plying tempos in Kanpur was perhaps eyewash. Like all earlier prestigious plans, this plan also was given much media-hype and finally thrown into the dustbin and now the tempos, illegal or legal, can audaciously run in any manner or on any route, which they deem fit. The district authorities came up with a quixotic idea of placing Red Plate (RTO) on every legally plying tempos, holding a pollution-free certificate, and the rest were to be impounded. When it came to the implementation part the district authorities said: ‘As there is no provision of allotment of permits through lottery, thus the plan now stands postponed.’
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 24/6/2004

Bangalore: Old wheels rule the roads while BCC sits dumb: The Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) is under attack where its garbage lorry ran amok, killing two persons. Despite such incidents, the civic body has not taken serious note of a government order phasing out old vehicles and has also not made efforts to check use of such vehicles by its contractors. Almost a year after the State government decided to ban vehicles more than 15 years old from entering the city, the BCC is yet to phase out such vehicles from its fleet. However, bowing to transporters’ pressure, the government later modified its ban order.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 25/6/2004

Bangalore: Transport Dept drive against old vehicles slackens: With the Transport Department’s drive against old and road-unworthy vehicles losing steam, many of the old, polluting vehicles are sneaking back into the city roads. To check rising vehicle pollution, the State Government has restricted entry of 15 years and above old vehicles from entering the city. Initially, the Transport Department officials had come down heavily on offenders by booking cases against them. The Department had even formed special squads, which kept watch on old vehicles on the outer ring roads and did not allow them to enter the city. Eventually, the drive lost the speed.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore, 26/6/2004

Ahmedabad: Ban on entry of heavy vehicles: Commuters feel the pinch: Commuters travelling in inter-state buses owned by private transporters were left stranded in the outskirts of Ahmedabad city as the Traffic Police banned entry of vehicles within the city limits from 1st July. The ban will remain effective till September.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 2/7/2004

Faridabad: Guidelines for old vehicles: The Haryana Government has banned registration of vehicles which are more than 15 years old in Delhi metropolitan area towns of Faridabad, Gurgaon, Bahadurgarh and Kundli. Announcing this, a state transport authority spokesman said the government had also banned plying of three-wheelers, private service vehicles and educational vehicles more than 15 years old. Similarly, stage carriage buses more than seven years old will not be allowed to ply.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 5/7/2004

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National Capital Region travel to get faster, smoother soon: The transportation system in the National Capital Region (NCR) is all set to get a fresh impetus with the introduction of the Rs 2,239 crore ‘Integrated Rail Transport System’ (IRTS). After Delhi Metro, the IRTS, is another mega project of the Sheila Dikshit Government to make Delhi, a world class city. Urban Development Ministry experts have already submitted their report in this regard to the Planning Commission for approval. "The IRTS plan involves the development of rail links across the entire NCR and this should certainly take the load off roads and make commuting easier across the NCR," sources in the Urban Development Ministry said.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 5/7/2004

Survey stress on public transport in urban areas: With one-third of India living in cities, the Economic Survey has called for greater emphasis on urban infrastructure, especially public transport. According to the Survey, an efficient public transport system not only improves the energy efficiency of the economy, it also maximises urban-rural linkages for better labour supply. "Rural areas surrounding cities tend to indirectly derive significant income from the prosperity of the city, through sale of high-value crops, through small and medium enterprises and through labour supply. Urban centres provide income diversification, as rural families often have some members working in urban centres," it points out.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 8/7/2004

High Capacity bus proposal to come up for Finance Ministry nod: The dedicated lanes for the controversial High Capacity bus system will come up for the Finance Ministry’s approval next week. The project has already been approved by the Public Works Department and the Transport department. Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf said: ‘‘There is no question of going back on the High Capacity corridors, as the funds required to redesign them is expected to be sanctioned next week.’’ The expenditure finance committee of the Finance Ministry will decide the fate of former Transport minister, Ajay Maken’s dream project.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/7/2004

Owning a car to pinch more: At the time of registration of a new vehicle, one will now have to shell out Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000 more towards what the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) calls parking misuse charges. The MCD Standing Committee on Wednesday approved the proposal for the hike. It will soon be sent to the Delhi Government for its go-ahead after which the extra charge is likely to be notified by September-end. For non-commercial and private vehicles, it is proposed that a one-time fee be charged at the time of registration itself.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 8/7/2004

Delhi: 108 per cent rise in diesel vehicles: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has expressed serious concern over the massive increase in registration of diesel vehicles in Delhi and called for an urgent review of the situation. It also stressed the need to bring forward the second- generation reforms to tackle air and vehicular pollution in the city over the next few years.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 9/7/2004

Delhi Transport Corporation gears up for study on CNG: Faced with the daily problem of maintenance of its over 2000 strong bus fleet, the DTC preparing for the future. The corporation, which runs the largest fleet of CNG buses in the world, now wants to study the effects of this new fuel on vehicle maintenance. "All our CNG buses are two years old. There is still a year to go for the warranty. But as in the case of diesel, there is not much know how available on maintenance of CNG vehicles."
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 16/7/2004

Excessive motorisation a threat to Delhi: CSE: There is an urgent need to restrict dieselisation of the personal car fleet with a fiscal policy that would take away the price advantage of diesel cars. Any further expansion in the diesel car fleet would nullify gains from the CNG programme as these will add to the NOx and particulate emissions load in the Capital, according to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 16/7/2004

Skybus option for NCR twin cities: Gurgaon and Faridabad may soon boast of a public transport system on the lines of the Delhi Metro. The NCR Planning Board has recommended skybus as a public transport option for the two satellite townships.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 21/7/2004

Private vehicles behind increasing congestion: With over 400 vehicles being added to Delhi’s roads every day and the road area more or less stagnant, the situation is getting more and more dismal. The transport department and traffic police can no very little to alleviate the situation. Though the total number of vehicles registered every day has fallen over the past five years, what concerns the authorities is the increasing number of private vehicles.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 21/7/2004

Delhi: Automobile makers flay levy on diesel cars: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) today flayed the Delhi Government’s proposal for an additional levy of 2 percent on private non-transport diesel vehicles as "discriminatory and not based on science".
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 23/7/2004

200 new AC buses to join DTC fleet: The Delhi Government has decided to purchase 200 new CNG air-conditioned deluxe buses. This is part of the Government’s efforts to discourage use of private vehicles for local transport and encourage them to shift to public transport system.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 27/7/2004

DTC wallows in utter neglect, apathy: In absence of "focus" and a regular financial advisor, the Delhi Transport Corporation is turning into an institution of "neglect" with numerous buses lying idle for want of repair and maintenance for months. This has only added to the recurrent losses being suffered by the corporation over the years. Bus commuters are likely to face a bus crunch as almost one-fourth of the DTC’s bus fleet has been grounded due to either technical problems or shortage of essential spare parts. The most critical parts missing are the tyres and tubes. Inter-state routes have also been heavily affected with 200 out of the total 574 buses off the road.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 27/7/2004, and The Times of India, New Delhi, 18/6/2004

Sky-bus ready for test run in Goa: The Konkan Railways has inched close to re-defining India’s skyline with its new Sky-Bus Metro rail ready for test trial in Goa next week. The Sky-Bus, which will ply suspended on dual overhead rails, is intended to make intra and inter-city commuting alternative option to congested roadways and terrestrial railways and a tourist attraction, Konkan Railways officials said on Wednesday. The test run to be conducted on 1.6-km track in Madgaon, Goa, will witness two coaches, inaugurated last year by former Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, ply under joint supervision of Konkan Railways and Austrian company ELIN EGB representatives.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 29/7/2004

High-capacity bus set to roll: After the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit recently revived the High Capacity Bus System (HCBS) project; it now seems just a matter of days before work begins. The Ambedkar Nagar-ISBT corridor is where the pilot project will be implemented, initially on the stretch between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand. Once Delhi government’s Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) gives its nod — expected within days — the project will be wrapped up within eight months. In fact, two international experts — Dr Walter Hook, Executive Director of NGO Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), and Oscar Edmundo Diaz, Latin America Regional Director ITDP — are in New Delhi now to help IIT Delhi’s Transport Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) in working out the modalities. The duo has worked extensively on the HCBS in many cities round the world, developing nations in particular. They have also visited Hyderabad and Ahmedabad to study the viability of the system there.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 1/8/2004

Pact clears the way for UP to Delhi buses: The Delhi government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Uttar Pradesh regarding inter-state buses. The lack of an agreement had been a major hurdle to commuters from UP regions, with buses being stopped by road transport authorities as both sides traded charges of ‘illegal travelling’. ‘‘This will now come to an end,’’ Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf said today while making a statement in the Assembly. The minister said as per the agreement, all bus services between Delhi and Noida, Greater Noida and upto six points in the Ghaziabad municipal area will be considered as ‘‘city services’’ and will operate only on CNG. The routes and the number of services will be decided between the two states.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 4/8/2004

Fiat launches Petra Diesel at Rs 5.72 lakh: Fiat India launched a diesel variant of its mid-size car Petra, powered by an electronically controlled 1.9 litre indirect injection naturally aspirated engine at an ex-showroom price of Rs 5.72 lakh for the basic model and Rs 6.08 lakh for the higher-end version.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi, 5/8/2004

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HC directive on anti-pollution steps in Manali: The Himachal Pradesh High Court today directed the state pollution control board to inform the court regarding the steps taken to control air pollution in Manali town during tourist season. Dealing with a Public Interest Litigation plea a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice L.S. Panta and Mr. Jutice R.L. Khurana observed that it was not clear from the reply of the board what preventive measures it had initiated to check air pollution by passenger vehicles in the town.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 2/7/2004

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Forget autonomy, anti-adulteration panel gets axe: In December 2001, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Chemicals had suggested that the Anti-Adulteration Cell (AAC) be given ‘‘full functional autonomy’’ to check irregularities in selection of dealers of petrol pumps and gas agencies. Today, the Petroleum Ministry ordered its closure, after a rethink following the arrest of two of its officials for taking bribe. The Ministry wrote to AAC’s Director-General that ‘‘a decision has been taken to wind up the Anti-Adulteration Cell’’ by July 31. It asked the D-G to hand over records to the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) and vacate the AAC’s Delhi headquarters and regional offices.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 30/6/2004

Unit to check fuel adulteration: After winding up the anti-adulteration cell, the Government plans to set up a small intelligence-gathering unit to check adulteration of petrol and diesel. The unit will focus on intelligence gathering on adulteration used in spiking fuel.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 12/7/2004

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