NEW DELHI, JAN. 5. Faced with flak for slipping on the pollution control front, the Sheila Dikshit Government is all set to unleash second-generation reforms to make the Capital's air cleaner and healthier. From this coming April 1, all commercial goods carriers up to 7.5 tonnes and below and all inter-State buses plying in the National Capital Region would have to switch over to the eco-friendly CNG fuel. Also, all commercial diesel vehicles from other States not destined for Delhi would be stopped from entering the Capital.
It is learnt that the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, had recently held a high level meeting where it was decided that the Government should push ahead with such reforms to encourage the use of CNG and make the public transport system efficient. It was also decided to fix deadlines for implementation of various goals and put in place a system that would ensure better air quality in the coming years.
It is learnt that the Government had already finalised the road map for the next generation reforms and it would issue orders asking all goods commercial vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes and less to switch over to CNG fuel for local transportation. These would include various categories of goods carriers including tempos, light motor vehicles and small trucks. It is expected that such a measure would have a big impact on the environment of the Capital and would help in bringing down air pollution to a large extent. In addition, it is also proposed that in the public transport sector, the Government would encourage use of CNG on the inter-State routes also. Only recently, CNG stations have been opened in Noida. "The basic aim is to encourage use of eco-friendly fuel. The inter-State buses can run on CNG in the NCR as the Delhi Transport Corporation buses have already achieved the feat of plying from Delhi to Agra and back on CNG fuel," the Commissioner (Transport) and DTC Chairman, Rajiv Talwar, said.
This apart, the Delhi Government is coordinating with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi police to stop entry of vehicles that are not destined for Delhi. The Supreme Court has already issued directions in this regard but the same was not implemented for some strange reason.
