AHMEDABAD: What is holding up speedy implementation of the plan for controlling air pollution in the city? The Supreme Court appointed Bhurelal committee feels it is due to questions regarding availability of compressed natural gas (CNG) and its pricing.

The committee members were in the city on Friday to take stock of the implementation and will visit again in January next year.

Director of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and member of the committee Sunita Narain said there should be more CNG suppliers in the city to bring down gas prices and increase its supply.

The committee observed that the retail gas price — Rs 25.53 per kg — offered by Gujarat Adani Energy Limited (GAEL) in the city was high compared to Rs 19 in Surat supplied by GSPC, Rs 18.25 by Gas Authority of India Limited in Vadodara and Rs 22.55 by Gujarat Gas between Surat and Bharuch.

The committee has given the government three months to come out with a price mechanism. As for gas availability,GAEL has committed to set up 15 CNG stations by March 2006.

As for CNG-run buses, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has committed to ply 400 by December, 650 by March next year and ply a total of about 1,000 buses in the city.

State transport department officials have committed to plying 200 state transport buses by March 2006. The committee was, however, not pleased that AMC had not yet prepared a 'public transport plan' for the city.

AMC has sought time until Septemberend to submit the plan. On the issue of CNG conversion of autorickshaws, the committee, although pleased with the earlier target of converting 5,000 rickshaws met, set a new target of converting 7,000 more by December 31.

On the issue of use of poor quality of LPG kits used by school vans and autorickshaws, the committee said that schools should be made liable for safety of students.

"It is the schools' responsibility to ensure children's safety and if vehicles are found using unauthorised LPG kits, the licenses of schools should be withdrawn," Narain said.