Govt to issue ordinance on compulsory use of CNG

Cabinet clears the Gujarat Motor Vehicles (Use of Fuel) Regulation Bill, 2003

The state government has decided to issue an ordinance on the compulsory use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in vehicles. For a start the government will insist on using CNG in the public transport vehicles such as buses, autorickshaws and state government vehicles.

The state cabinet on Friday cleared the Gujarat Motor Vehicles (Use of Fuel) Regulation Bill, 2003, becoming the first state to pass the bill. It will now be sent to the Governor for approval.

State minister for energy and petrochemicals, Saurabh Dalal, said on Sunday that once adequate infrastructure is put in place, the state government will issue a notification for the compulsory use of CNG.

"Gujarat is the first state to adopt a CNG Act. With the gas grid being put in place, the GSPC co-ordinating the CNG kit supply and with various companies putting up CNG supply infrastructure, the government will shortly issue a notification on compulsory use of CNG," Dalal said.

Since the gas grid is already being laid, the law will come into force as and when CNG is made available, beginning with Ahmedabad city. "Once the CNG stations start coming up in cities, enacting the law will become easier," the minister said.

Last month, the state government decided that only the CNG-run autorickshaws will be registered with the regional transport authorities, post-April, 2005.

The government has also decided to set up 10 CNG supply stations by the year-end in Ahmedabad city.

Last year, the Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPC) organised a seminar for rickshaw owners and drivers of the state, in a bid to educate them on the need to switch to CNG as fuel. Autorickshaw owners will, on an average, save over Rs 100 per day on fuel if they convert to CNG from petrol. It will hugely reduce the air pollution in the state.

Autorickshaws owners will require to invest around Rs 20,000 for installing CNG conversion kits in their vehicles.

While autorickshaw owners, who had turned up at the seminar from all over the state, welcomed the idea, their main concern was spending Rs 20,000 on the conversion kits.

Since a number of provisions of the new proposed Act also concern the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the Gujarat Motor Vehicles (Use of Fuel) Regulation Bill, 2003 will be sent to the Governor for approval, to ensure that the provisions do not clash with existing laws.