| Air pollution and
Indian cities |
Action plans to control pollution: The Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said it had prepared several city-based action plans to
control the air-pollution in the country. Although with the actions taken over the last
five years, the sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead level have drastically reduced
in metropolis, a lot has to be done in the smaller cities and rural areas, CPCB
spokesperson B Sengupta said.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 15/6/2005
Pollution levels dip in Capital: Government: The Delhi government claimed that
pollution levels in the capital have dipped constantly over the past decade. The
government claims that Delhi is one of the few cities in Asia which has been experiencing
this reportedly due to various measures like introduction of CNG buses introduction of
better quality diesel and afforestation drive undertaken by the government. World Health
Organisation conducted a survey and the data collected by it revealed that pollution has
been decreasing in the city. Steadily.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 14/6/2005
Feeling sick? Blame it on 1000-plus SPM: According to the National Ambient Air
Quality Standard, the safe SPM level for residential areas ought to be 200 ug/M3. The dust
cover over the city for the past two days would go, said climate experts, only if there
was a storm or a rainfall. None is predicted in the near future. The unusual weather
conditions have led to increased complaints of cough, choking and running nose.
"There is an apparent increase in the number of cases of chronic cough, running nose,
severe throat infection and chronic bronchitis in the past 10 days," said Dr Anoop
Mishra, professor at the department of Medicine at the All Indian Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS). "The problems of those who suffer from bronchitis and have got
aggravated in the past few days owing to the prevailing dusty and dry atmospheric
conditions," Dr Mishra said.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 14/6/2005
Waiting for that breath of fresh air: It's been three years since Ahmedabad city
has rated India's most polluted cities. And, even as one more Environment Day passes by,
there is hardly any relief for Amdavadis who make do with noxious air. Ironically, while
the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) admits that any substantial change is yet to
come, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation states that all that was possible has been done.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 5/6/2005
Polluted air choking Bangaloreans: If the latest findings of the Karnataka State
Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) are to be believed, the air in Bangalore City is more
polluted than ever. Increased construction activity, heavy vehicular traffic, lack of a
mass transit system and poorly maintained roads are some of the factors that have led to
the dismal state of affairs. An analysis of regular air quality monitoring conducted by
the KSPCB mobile laboratories during 2004-05 reveals that efforts like auto rickshaws
switching over to LPG and industries within the outer ring road using cleaner fuels, have
not contributed in bringing down pollution level.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 5/6/2005
Board fumes over increasing pollution in Noida: The increasing level of
pollution in Noida is worrying the officials of the Pollution Control Board. The major
factor in increasing pollution level has been the smoke emanating from burning of waste in
the town. Alarmed at the monitoring report compiled by the Pollution Department in which
the rate of SPM and RSPM have more than doubled in Noida, the pollution department is
understood to have initiated a study to reduce pollution as also to keep the norms of
pollution level within limits. The department has, thus, issued notices to certain
industrial units, which were perceived to have contributed to the increasing pollution in
the town. At a number of places in the city, waste is kept burning always. At a large plot
in Sector-62 adjoining Khora Colony, heaps of waste are kept burning all daylong. On many
occasions, the residents of adjoining areas, including Khora Colony, have voiced protests
against this but no step has been taken to stop or control it.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 1/6/2005
^Top
| Fuel and vehicle
technology |
Car to run 150 km in one litre: A team of students
of the Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) here has designed and developed a 150km/litre
concept car, which will hit the road at an international super mileage contest in the US
next week. 'Endeavour', the 55 kg single-seat vehicle developed by 14 third year students
of the Delhi College of Engineering, will be the only entry from Asia at the competition
organised by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) International in Marshall,
Michigan. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit symbolically flagged off the vehicle at her
residence this afternoon in the presence of the team, the first from India in the contest
to be held on June 9-10."It's a concept vehicle. We developed it because fuel
efficiency is a very relevant issue today," said Neha Juneja, the team's only woman
member.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 2/6/2005
Bharath Stage III emission norms hit a roadblock: Implementation of the Bharath
Stage III (equivalent to Euro III) emission norms has hit a roadblock in the city. The
specified checking instrument for the Stage III emission certification - Chassis dynamo
Meter - is yet to reach the recognised emission centres in the city. As per the Central
Government notification, the Bharath Stage III norms were to be implemented by April 1,
2005. But so far no efforts have been taken to equip the vehicle emission checking centres
in the city to meet the new emission standards. According to highly placed sources in the
department, the Chassis Dynamo Meter was available only at one place in the city and that
would not be in any way sufficient t to check the entire fleet of new vehicles coming on
to the roads every day.
Source: The New Indian Express, Chennai, 17/5/2005
^Top
| Alternative Fuels
and Technology |
CNG/LPG
Trial held for running local train on CNG: The Northern Railways has held trials for
running a local train on the cost-effective Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in New Delhi.
Sources in Northern Railways told TNS that Indraprastha Gas Ltd has provided CNG for the
engine during the testing phase free of cost. Sources said that trials are on for running
a four-compartment train from the Shakurbasti railway shed here. A Diesel Multiple Unit
(DMU) engine is being run on CNG. Sources said that the use of CNG would enable the
railways to save upto Rs 24 lakh per train every year as CNG costs Rs 16 per kg as
compared to diesel that costs about Rs 30 per litre.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 16/6/2005
CNG to cost more from July: With the approval of a proposal to hike natural gas
prices by the government, the Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has decided to increase its
retail prices of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from July. The IGL is the only supplier
of the CNG to the national Capital. The IGL is waiting for a cabinet nod for a price rise
before deciding on the quantum of hike. The government has approved a proposal to hike
natural gas prices by around 12 per cent from Rs 2,850 to Rs 3,200 per thousand standard
cubic meters for power and fertilizer units. An official of the Union Ministry of
Petroleum said that the increase in natural gas was likely to be effective from next
month.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 3/6/2005
Vehicles to vroom on CNG soon: Vijayawada city has climbed the select bandwagon
of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) users along with metros like New Delhi, Mumbai, Surat and
Vadodara. It has become the first city in south India to use CNG as an alternative fuel
for vehicles. Vehicle users in the city can start opting for CNG fuel from July.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 19/5/2005
LPG conversion mandatory for auto rickshaws: The drive to promote use of auto
liquefied petroleum gas in commercial passenger vehicles is all set to receive a big push
with the State Government contemplating to put in place statutory support mechanisms for
the purpose. An indication of its thinking, according to sources in national oil
companies, was available at a meeting of senior officials from various departments
concerned, including environment and transport here with representatives of automobile and
oil industries. The plan is to make auto LPG conversion mandatory for auto rickshaws,
share auto rickshaws and call taxis in Chennai when they approach the Regional Transport
Offices seeking renewal of the fitness certificate. Switching over to the eco-friendly
fuel will be insisted upon even at the time of the auto rickshaws seeking RTO endorsement
for alterations made to the engine. The State Government, they added, was planning to
introduce these changes by framing rules to the Motor Vehicles Act.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 30/5/2005
Clean fuel drive runs out of steam: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control
Board’s move to push for greener auto fuels by promoting liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG) as an alternative is losing steam with both oil majors and vehicle users failing to
sustain the initial momentum. Of the 28 auto LPG dispensing stations which were to be set
up by March end, only 14 have been put up, with the oil companies citing unattractive
returns and high cost of land as deterrents. Even existing pumps are complaining of lack
of adequate stock.
Source: The Hindu, Chennai, 14/5/2005
^Top
Oil cos, ISMA to ink pact on ethanol-blended petrol:
Oil marketing companies and the Indian Sugar Mills` Association (ISMA) will sign an
agreement next month for supply of ethanol blended petrol in 10 States including Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and four Union Territories from
July. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is committed to implementing the
ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) programme for which the indigenous ethanol suppliers and the
oil marketing companies are equal partners.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 28/5/2005
Ethanol-blended petrol project on revival path: With the mounting oil import
bill and pressure of the Leftist parties to explore all options before announcing hike in
petrol, diesel prices have once again brightened the prospects for better future of
ethanol-blended petrol. The programme of ethanol-blended petrol launched by previous NDA
government about two years ago, was partially deferred last year when the cartel of sugar
mills increased ethanol prices and oil companies found it uneconomical to mix ethanol in
petrol. Five per cent mixing of ethanol in petrol project was launched in nine states
including Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka. "Plans to supply petrol blended with
ethanol across the country are set to take off again after an agreement with the sugar
industry on price and supply," said Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 28/5/2005
Driving Mr Singh: Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh is the first chief
minister in the country, who has been using bio-fuel in his vehicle and he said, "My
Tata Safari is giving proper mileage and the bio-diesel is a trouble-free fuel as it has
never given any problem anywhere." Before running the vehicle of the chief minister
on bio-fuel, the Bio-fuel Development Authority had run a vehicle for 2,800 km in the
state to check the bio-product and also to popularise the alternate to the costly diesel.
With commercial production of bio-fuel from jatropha, Chhattisgarh is looking at replacing
diesel totally in a decade.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 5/6/2005
Ministries eye Rs 1,400 crore bio-diesel fund: Even before the national mission
on bio-diesel takes off, the ministries of agriculture and rural development are vying for
control. At stake is a corpus of around Rs 1,400 crore, which the Planning Commission will
allot to the mission on bio-diesel. The earlier NDA government had designated the ministry
of rural development as the nodal ministry for the nationwide bio-diesel programme. The
brief given to the rural development ministry was to conceptualise the programme for
exploiting bio-diesel through large scale plantation of non edible oil seeds and plants
like jatropha curcus and so on.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 30/5/2005
Trial run of bio diesel to end in June: "Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
Limited (HPCL) will finish its bio diesel trial runs conducted on 25 Brihanmumbai Electric
Supply and Transport Undertaking or Best buses in June 2005. We were conducting trials on
these buses where they were running on diesel blended with five per cent, 10 per cent and
20 per cent of jatropha oil and imported bio diesel," said Mr Bharat Balan, ex-deputy
general manager, alternative fuels, HPCL.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 26/5/2005
Policy on bio diesel as alternative fuel soon: The government is likely to
announce policy on the use of 20% bio diesel blend as an alternate fuel by August. The
ministry of rural development is considering the proposal from the Planning Commission.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 25/5/2005
Bio-diesel: Eco-friendly but too expensive: It's environment-friendly; it cuts
vehicular emissions and is being described as the fuel of the future. But, the only thing
that the Gujarat Government's latest obsession, bio diesel, seems to lack is economic
viability. The bio fuel, drawn form jatropha seeds, is being made by a Panili-based
company, which sells it to IOC at an astronomical rate of Rs 54 per litre. The later
blends 5% of this expensive fuel into diesel and sells it to the Gujarat Government to run
four State Transport buses between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 18/5/2005
Hydrogen/Electric/alternate technologies
Fuel cell hydrogen cars soon: Reva Electric Car Company Pvt Ltd (RECC) and Indian Oil
Corporation (IOC) will develop two fuel cell hydrogen vehicles (FCVs) for a pilot project
initiated by IOC, to develop hydrogen economy in India. Sudarshan Maini, Chairman, RECC
and B M Bansal, Director, Research, IOC, signed a statement of intent for the same on
Saturday in Bangalore. According to the agreement, RECC will use its expertise to build
these hydrogen vehicles with fuel cell power modules and associated components to be
sourced from abroad and IOC will provide the infrastructure needed to supply and stock
hydrogen and to test the vehicles at its Research and Development (R&D) centre in
Faridabad.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 5/6/2005
^Top
DTC's CNG buses flunk pollution test: The new CNG
buses may not be all that environment friendly. According to an internal study by the DTC,
even these buses are polluting. The reason - most of the catalytic converters installed in
the buses are not functioning properly, which puts these buses in the pollutants' lists.
"The normal life of a converter is about two years. As most of the DTC buses are more
than that, the converters are not working properly," said an official.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 9/6/2005
Growing vehicular pollution may soon put Kashmir on top of India's list: A major
health hazard is likely to unfold in Kashmir following the massive air pollution caused by
the toxic vehicular emissions. Experts warn that if immediate measures are not taken.
Kashmir will become one of the most polluted cities in the country. And its repercussions
will be too heavy to handle.
Source: The Kashmir Times, Jammu, 5/6/2005
Automated unit to test vehicles: The Delhi Transport Department is all set to
acquire a fully automated inspection unit for commercial vehicles plying in the city. The
plant will replace manual and semi-automatic facilities currently available at the Burari
Inspection Unit. ''We are acquiring a new, fully automated plant to ensure standard
fitness levels for commercial vehicles as per rules. The plant will be functional from
July 1 and fitness of all commercial vehicles will be routed through it instead of manual
inspection which can leave some parameters ignored'', said Haroon Yusuf, Minister for
Transport.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 7/6/2005
Bengal to take 'flexible' stand on old vehicles: Considering the threat of an
all India transporters' strike, the West Bengal Government has decided to take a
'flexible' stand on the issue of rejection of old vehicles. The State Transport and Sports
Minister, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, told that he had assured heavy vehicle operators that no
decision would be taken in this regard without proper discussions.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 3/6/2005
LPG fiat fuels stir call: Kolkata based transport operators are set up in arms
against the state's decision to phase out the pre 1990 commercial vehicles. The operators
have even threatened an agitation. Though the state transport minister, Mr Subhas
Chakraborty declined comment a department official today confirmed that the formal
notification would be issued this week. It has been decided that all commercial vehicles,
including buses, minibuses, taxis, auto rickshaws and trucks, manufactured prior to 1990
must go off the road in the KMDA area unless they convert their engines to the LPG mode.
Source: The Statesman, Kolkata, 18/5/2005
Bengal calls meet on vehicles phase-out: The West Bengal Government has convened
a meeting of transport operators on June 9 to discuss threadbare issues pertaining to the
proposed phasing out, from Kolkata, of commercial vehicles that have been registered prior
to 1990. Speaking at a function organised by The Calcutta Goods Transport Association
here, the West Bengal’s Minister for Transport, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, said the
Government was keen on helping the transporters by way of tax concessions and requesting
banks to offer soft loans to them for purchase of new vehicles, etc.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 30/5/2005
^Top
| Transportation
and traffic |
|
DMRC awaits nod for 53 km phase II: Delhi Metro
Rail Corporation (DMRC) is awaiting Centre's clearance for starting work on the 53 km
stretch, which is to be covered under phase II of the metro rail network in the city.
DMRC's empowered committee has already cleared the corridor, and the metro officials are
expecting that Centre's approval may come by the end of this month. The estimated budget
of the entire work would be known only after the clearance, officials informed.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 5/5/2005
Ownership of cars to double by 2009-10: The rapid rise in the country's middle
and upper income classes, more than overall GDP growth per se, is likely to lead to a
dramatic hike in the demand for big-ticket items like motorcycles, refrigerators and
cars/jeeps, according to the National Council of Applied Economic Research's (NCAER's)
latest report, "The Great Indian Market". The report is based on an extensive
all-India survey of over 300,000 households and contains projections till the end of the
decade. As a result, the number of households owning cars will more than double from
around 4 per cent right now to over 9 per cent by the end of the decade, that for scooters
will remain stagnant at around 8 per cent, will double for motorcycles to over 28 per
cent. In terms of demand, this will mean demand for cars/jeeps will easily cross the 3
million mark; motorcycles will nearly touch the 8.5 million marks and regular sized colour
TVs the 10 million mark.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 20/6/2005
Chandigarh’s car ratio ahead of Delhi: There are far more vehicles than
commuters in Chandigarh, which has the highest number of motorised four- and two-wheelers.
For every 1.7 persons, there is a vehicle in the city, which is far more than the national
Capital's ratio of one vehicle per four persons. According to the statistics of the
transport department, at present there are over 1,55,000 four-wheelers and more than
3,95,000 two-wheelers, a government official said. Over the last seven years, as many as
30,000 vehicles were being annually added to the city, they added. In addition, there is
the floating population of over 100,000 vehicles that come into the city from the
adjoining towns of Panchkula, Mohali and other nearby areas annually, the official added.
Of the total number of vehicles, more than half was added in the last one decade alone,
the official said.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 17/6/2005
Fewer cars registered in Capital after tax hike: Almost two months after the new
ad-valorem rates on new vehicles came into effect, registration of vehicles continues to
dip in the Capital. On April 25 this year, the Delhi government imposed higher ad-valorem
slabs, increasing road tax on vehicles. While as many as 20,969 vehicles were registered
in Delhi in April 2004, the number fell to 11,880 in April, this year. In May 2004, almost
18,670 private vehicles were registered in the Capital, but May 2005 has seen a figure
close to 11,000 vehicles.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 17/6/2005
^Top
| National
and local initiatives |
|
U.P. downs barrier on Delhi autos, taxis: Residents of neighbouring Noida and
Ghaziabad have been greatly inconvenienced by the decision of the Administration in these
two districts not to allow entry to three-wheelers and taxis of Delhi on the ground that
there are now eco-friendly CNG-run vehicles there as well. The transport officials of
these townships insist that since Delhi does not allow their CNG vehicles to ply in the
Capital, they are just "reciprocating the gesture". But this has led to a major
problem for both the daily commuters and those passengers, who travel to these townships
from the airport, railways stations or bus termini in Delhi. The general secretary of the
Transport Unit of Delhi BJP, Rajendra Soni, said despite the fact that at all these major
transport destinations, the pre-paid booths are operated by the Delhi Traffic Police, who
make out the travel slips, the transport officials of Noida and Ghaziabad have been for
the past two weeks stopping vehicles at the borders and challaning them huge amounts.
"While the taxis have been made to pay up to Rs 6,000, the TSRs have been challaned
up to Rs 3,100," he claimed.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 17/6/2005
State govt may finally say ‘yes’: A year after the State Transport
Authority (STA) submitted proposals to impose "green levy" on polluting old
vehicles in the state, the government has finally set in motion the process of finalising
the modalities to implement the same. The move is expected to fetch revenue of around Rs
20 crore every year. An estimated 4 lakh of the 40-lakh vehicles, which are plying in the
state, are said to be more than 15 years old. Among them, nearly 16-lakh ply in the
Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) limits resulting in severe air pollution.
Green tax is intended to discourage people from driving old vehicles. Soon after
Rajasekhara Reddy took over as Chief Minister in May last year, STA officials submitted
several proposals for mobilising resources and levying green tax was one of them. All
proposals except green tax were cleared at that time.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 4/6/2005
State order makes CNG kits must for rickshaws: Acting on Bhurelal Committee
recommendations, the Gujarat State Government has directed that all rickshaws registered
after April 1, 1991 will have to get CNG kits fitted mandatory. Failing this, their
permits would not be renewed and their registration would stand cancelled. They will also
be allowed to run only within AMC and AUDA limits if they have kits fitted.
Source: The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 3/6/2005
Eco-friendly BMTC to launch 500 buses: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport
Corporation (BMTC) will introduce 500 additional buses to its existing fleet on roads that
have high incidence of two-wheeler traffic and in newly developed suburban areas by
October, said BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathy. However, the details regarding the
bus routes have not been finalised. Announcing this at the inaugural session of the
'Eco-internship' programme-a BMTC initiative to spread awareness about environmental
issues including pollution and global warming- held in Bangalore on Thursday, Mr Tripathy
said that such programmes were absolutely necessary as City's pollution problem was
increasing rapidly.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 27/5/2005
Pre-1990 commercial vehicles to be banned in Bengal: An estimated 7,464 buses,
1,168 mini-buses, 9,587 taxis and 6,784 auto rickshaws would have to be scrapped by the
end of this year with the West Bengal Government banning operation of pre-1990 commercial
vehicles in the metropolis and suburbs. The Government issued a notification making
suitable amendments to the 'Bengal Motor Vehicles Rules' to ban pre-1990 commercial
vehicles from Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly and Nadia, besides North and South 24-Parganas.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 26/5/2005
Haryana slashes car tax further: Already
reeling under a 40 per cent fall in vehicle registrations due to lower tax rates in
neighbouring states, Delhi took another jolt today with Haryana deciding to further
''rationalise'' the rates of one-time token tax on private cars, making them the lowest in
the region. So now, anybody buying a car priced upto Rs 4 lakh will be taxed a flat rate
of Rs 2,000 in Haryana. Cars priced between Rs 4 lakh and Rs 10 lakh will attract tax at
one per cent of the cost while cars costing more than Rs 10 lakh would be taxed at 1.5 per
cent of the cost.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 23/5/2005
^Top
Vehicle emission check: BSPCB disclaims
responsibility: The Bihar State Pollution Control Board has disclaimed any
responsibility for setting up the infrastructure required for testing vehicular emissions
in Patna and other parts of Bihar. The board's assertions assume importance in view of the
High Court's direction that no fine should be imposed on vehicle owners for not possessing
Pollution Control Certificates till such time as adequate infrastructure for issuance of
such certificates was not in place.
Source: The Hindustan Times, Patna, 15/5/2005
^Top |
|
Over-exposure to carbon monoxide dangerous for kids'
ears: Over-exposure to carbon monoxide (C0) of low-level can cause damage to kids'
ears leading to permanent hearing-loss. In a research conducted over rats, UCLA scientists
have discovered how chronic exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide (CO) damages the
inner ear of young rats, resulting in permanent hearing-loss. This study appeared in this
month's issue of the Journal of Neuroscience Research.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 8/6/2005
Air pollution causing lung problems among city zoo animals: Not many in the city
might be knowing that 'Badal' the leopard which remained captivated at the Nehru zoo for
17 long years and breathed its last a few months back, had tremendous deposition of
'carbon' in its lungs. Badal remained exposed to the pollution of this city in his cage
that was placed at last end of the zoo. The fact that leopard had become a sink of Per
oxyacital Nitrate Oxide during his captivated period at the zoo came to fore during its
autopsy.
Source: Free Press, Indore, 5/6/2005
Conceive this: Pollution may be harming your hormones: Traffic jams can be more
dangerous than you think. The vehicular fumes not only choke your lungs, ruin your skin
and peak your stress levels, now doctors claim it can also bring down your fertility.
After physiological imbalances and stress, pollution is emerging as the new-age
contributing factor to low fertility in men and women alike. Chemical pollutants can
trigger hormonal irregularities, says gynaecologist Dr Padmini Prasad.
Source: Deccan Herald, Bangalore, 5/6/2005
Vehicular traffic causing rise in asthma cases: There is a growing trend in
cases of Asthma in the city using the last the few years due to increased of vehicles even
as children below five years are more prone to the disease, say experts. "There is a
growing increase in the Asthma patients and from last year itself it has witnessed an
increase by about four percent due to tremendous increase in vehicular traffic." Said
Dr Asha Pherwant Consultant Paediatrician.
Source: The Free Press Journal, Mumbai, 5/5/2005
^Top |
CNG autos in city plying sans metres: Flouting
Bangladesh government order the owners of CNG auto rickshaws have not yet fixed meters to
their vehicles in the port city and the drivers are taking advantage by extracting higher
fare from the passengers. Sources said, about one-lakh CNG auto rickshaws carry passengers
in the port city every day. The drivers of the auto rickshaws quite often demand higher
fare from passengers for travel in the city areas. The drivers sometimes force a passenger
to pay 40 taka as fare for a trip from Agrabad to New Market. But the distance between the
two points is no more than four km. The passengers allege that the drivers of CNG autos
compel them to pay much more than the actual fare, as there are no metres of fare in the
vehicles. Everyday, several lakh passengers are suffering for the higher fare.
Source: The Independent (Internet), Dhaka, 16/6/2005
Rickshaws with CNG from 15th: Lahore district Nazim Mian Amer has said CNG
rickshaws will be available in the city from June 15 under the Green Punjab Programme.
Briefing Canadian High Commissioner Stuart Hughes on the environment protection
initiatives during a meeting, the nazim said the provincial government would pay a subsidy
of Rs30, 000 on CNG rickshaws costing over Rs100, 000 each. The rickshaws would be
delivered to buyers on payment of Rs 28,000, and the remaining cost would be recovered in
easy instalments without any mark-up on the loan. He said the government was also
encouraging four-stroke motorcycles. Preparations were also being made for operating
CNG-fuelled buses in the city.
Source: Dawn (Internet), Pakistan, 10/6/2005
Policy soon to regulate new petrol, CNG stations: The Rawalpindi district
government (Pakistan) is framing a policy to regulate the installation of new
petrol/diesel filling stations and CNG gas stations. Lack of regulatory mechanism in the
past had led to haphazard mushroom growth of this sector. Rawalpindi city today holds the
distinction of having the highest number of filling and gas stations in a city in the
Punjab. Several citizen groups have in the past expressed concern over the rapid and
unchecked growth of filling and gas stations, particularly in the densely populated areas
causing inconvenience to the residents. The district government on Wednesday directed the
tehsil municipal administrations (TMAs) and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to
submit their proposals within 10 days on regulating the business.
Source: Dawn (Internet), Pakistan, 26/5/2005
^Top |