Govt clueless on green fuel stations

In July 1999, an international competitive bidding was held and orders placed in September. GAIL says equipment will be available in February for all 80 stations.

Till date, GAIL has not been told the exact demand of CNG in the coming months. With the conversion of DTC buses in doldrums formonths, the Delhi government was in no position to give even the approximate number of vehicles needing the gas. There are 1,800 buses which are awaiting conversion.

“If we do not know how many buses and cars are going to come to the stations, it is difficult to order the equipment,” said Rajiv Sharma. CNG stations are different from petrol or diesel as it requires a compressor at every dispensing station. Its size varies with the the size of vehicles. For heavy vehicles, the cost is Rs 65 lakh while the smaller ones cost Rs 35 lakh.

Now, the flip side. Government agencies are complaining that the conversion of DTC buses and introduction of new CNG buses is not happening because the filling stations are not in place. “The CNG stations have not been set up, how can we convert buses to CNG?” asked Dr A K Walia, Minister for Environment and Forests.

Also, in a press conference held to mark the Congress government’s one year in power, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also gave the same excuse on the delayin conversion of buses. Said Managing Director, Indraprastha Gas Ltd: “After a few months, we decided to give our own estimates on presumptions of demand and order the equipment.”

In spite of all efforts, GAIL is yet to obtain land for 10 stations. After a survey for land had been conducted, it was found that for the permission a string of agencies like DDA, MCD, Defence, Airport Authority, MCD and Land and Development Officehad to be contacted. A series of meetings, letters from the Environment Protection Authority helped in hastening matters.

“Even if we do not have the land, we will install the dispensers somewhere,” said Sharma, since the equipment has already been ordered.Each mother station (with mobile casket) costs between Rs 4 and 5 crore, filling stations (with pipeline facility) cost Rs 3 crore and daughter stations (without pipelines) cost Rs 1 crore.

GAIL is hoping that their estimates on the demand are not too off the mark.