August 27, 2009 12:02:56 am
It will be a while before queues at CNG gas stations get any shorter,with the Delhi government not being able to act on their promise of building 100 additional gas stations before Commonwealth Games.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA),responsible for allotting 19 plots as part of the first phase,has only been able to provide two plots almost a year after the Delhi governments decision. The DDA claims most of the plots are stuck in complicated revenue related issues.
The citys other landowning agencies too,have not been able to provide the plots for the project. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi,which was supposed to provide eight plots,has given only one till now. The Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC),meanwhile,has not provided any yet.
At a meeting with Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta,Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) in charge of handling the pumps complained to Mehta that following the Union petroleum ministrys urgent request for more stations in the city,they had already placed the order for 50 pumps. While the land is still not available,the infrastructure for the pumps will be delivered soon.
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GAIL also presented a proposal for an additional 22 pumps,for which DDA has to allot land.
The government had been promoting CNG for a pollution-free Delhi ahead of the Games next year. Despite the shortage of CNG pump stations in the city,the government had already issued orders for all small goods vehicle to convert to CNG. A proposal was floated to have exclusive filling stations for autorickshaws too.
The Capitals consumption of CNG has already risen to 11.8 lakh kg per day.
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