PIL seeks conversion of all autorickshaws, city buses to CNG

The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to the state government and pollution control board on a PIL seeking conversion of all autorickshaws and public transport buses in Ahmedabad into CNG-compatible ones.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued notices to the state government, the transport commissioner, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and other respondents.

The PIL, filed by NGO Paryavaran Mitra, also sought conversion of diesel-run goods vehicles to CNG, and compensation to people for scrapping old vehicles.

Drawing attention to the "rising" pollution level in Ahmedabad, the petitioner has sought the court's direction to the respondents to consider implementing suggestions made by it to curb air pollution.

Petitioner Mahesh Pandya of NGO Paryavaran Mitra, who had also presented his suggestions to the Supreme Court-appointed Bhure Lal Committee, through his lawyer N M Kapadia, said only 65 per cent of autorickshaws in the state are running on CNG.

He added that none of the 250-odd BRTS (bus rapid transit system) buses in Ahmedabad are running on CNG.

Pandya also sought the court's direction for shifting of all vehicles to BS III and BS IV emission standards.

He said retrofitted CNG vehicles do not serve the purpose and hence the government should encourage new CNG-based vehicles.

"For encouragement, the government should not levy GST or sales tax on such vehicles. When they purchase new ones, RTO tax should not be imposed," he said in his petition.