NEW DELHI: Delhi must convert into a natural gas-based economy as part of a long-term air quality management, oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said while inaugurating a TOI conference on 'Smart Energy, Smart India' here on Tuesday.

"The symbolism (of various moves to control air quality) in Delhi has to stop. It's entire energy basket has to be rejigged, Pradhan said alluding to increased use of CNG (compressed natural gas) and using the clean-burning fuel to run more polluting power plants using coal.

Referring to the coal-fired Badarpur power plant, which has been blamed for a major chunk of Delhi's air pollution, Pradhan questioned as to why it could not be turned into a cleaner gas-burning station. Similarly, he also asked why the Delhi government's Bawana gas-fired power plants were not being switched on.

Describing TOI as the "voice of modern India", Pradhan said a sustained campaign must be launched to debate on how Delhi can change it energy economy for a cleaner air. "There must be debate. One opinion now says that emission from CNG causes cancer. I say, let's debate. Let's hear all opinions. We are there."