The National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench, on Monday directed authorities of the Central and State governments to file replies to an application seeking to implement the usage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)/compressed natural gas (CNG) in commercial and public transport vehicles plying the city.
The Bench gave the directive after taking up the application filed by L.G. Sahadevan, advocate.
Stating that the application was filed in public interest, Mr. Sahadevan also sought a direction to authorities to implement the usage of LPG/CNG in autorickshaws, share autos, Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses, tourist cabs and other public transport vehicles within a time frame.
In the application, he also said urban air quality management in the city was essential due to the rapid increase in the number of vehicles. The number rose from 5.17 lakh in 1990 to 11.5 lakh in 2000. Further, from 2000 to 2013, the volume of vehicles increased multifold and rose to 40.10 lakh. Vehicle emissions constituted an important source of air pollution in the city, he said.
He added that pursuant to the orders of the Supreme Court, all vehicles in Delhi were converted to CNG and autorickshaws are being run on LPG in Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
The Bench posted the matter to April 22 for further hearing.
