Observing that financial limits cannot be an excuse for not introducing CNG-operated buses, the High Court of Karnataka on Friday asked the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to come out with a scheme to induct CNG buses in the city in a phased manner.
Refusing to modify its earlier order of restraining the BMTC from purchasing diesel buses without taking the court into confidence, the court said a high cost of CNG buses cannot be an excuse to postpone introduction of buses that use environment-friendly fuel. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath made these observations during the hearing of a PIL petition, which sought direction to shift to CNG-operated buses for bringing down pollution.
Advocate for BMTC sought permission to buy Bharat Stage-IV diesel buses. Advocates for both BMTC and KSRTC said that cost of CNG buses is three times the cost of diesel buses and operational cost of CNG buses are more while pointing out that the Union government must provide financial support. However, the court said it could consider BMTC’s plea for buying some diesel buses as an interim measure provided the it introduced a scheme for purchase of CNG buses and getting rid of diesel buses in a phased manner.
The bench will hear the petition after two weeks.
