‘Comparing Ludhiana with Chandigarh is misplaced’

Terming the PIL filed by Jatinder Moudgill as misconceived,the Administration has stated that it is keen and willing to introduce alternative mode of fuel for public vehicles. To make CNG available in Chandigarh,however,a dedicated supply line is required to be laid by the Government of India,which is likely to take up to five years.

The infrastructure of supply of CNG is to be provided by the Ministry of Petroleum and thus,without availability of sufficient supply of CNG,it is not feasible to restrict vehicles to use CNG only,the Administration has added.

Counsel for the UT Administration stated: “Till a supply line for CNG is laid down and it is made available,it is not feasible to restrict vehicles from using diesel or petrol.” Calling the PIL and the comparison of Chandigarh with cities like Ludhiana and Delhi by the petitioner as misplaced,the reply of the Administration reads: “While no part of the country can afford to relax vigil in the matter of ecology and environmental pollution,any attempt to equate Chandigarh with other cities is neither supported by any expert study or analysis of the specific situation obtaining in Chandigarh nor vindicated by the actual position on the ground.”

The petition is based on the facile assumption that Chandigarh faces the same or similar problem of air pollution caused by vehicles as was,or is being,faced in Delhi or in other cities such as Ludhiana,the Administration has submitted.

“It would be no exaggeration to say that Chandigarh does not face any significant or material problem of vehicular pollution. While the increase in number of vehicles raises issues of traffic regulation and control and also issues relating to parking,neither traffic nor parking issues can blindly or mechanically be clubbed with,” the Administration has stated. The Administration,however,plans to allow auto-rickshaws using LPG in a phased manner. At present,there are two LPG stations in Chandigarh.

The operation of existing diesel driven auto-rickshaws will be allowed till August 31,2009.