While the rest of the Capital has switched over to CNG for public transport, the international airport has not taken off on the SC directive.
NEW DELHI: While the rest of the Capital has turned greener by switching over to compressed natural gas (CNG) for public transport, the international airport has not taken off on the Supreme Court directive even after more than six years.
A Delhi-based transport body, Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT), has now given an ultimatum to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to switch over to CNG or it will knock the doors of the apex court.
The AAI woke up last year after it got a clarification from the additional solicitor general on the court order and had even set a February deadline for coaches at the airport tarmac to give up diesel and convert to CNG.
“But, at present, almost 70-80 per cent of the bus fleet at Indira Gandhi International airport remains to be diesel-run in total contravention of Apex court order,” charged IFTRT in a statement.
According to the organisation, AAI has not followed the deadline set by its belated notice dated November 24, 2005. The notice sent to airlines said entry to non-CNG coaches would be totally stopped from February 15, 2006.
The apex court in its order in MC Mehta vs the Union of India case had ruled that all commercial vehicles operators/agencies would not ply diesel-run commercial vehicles beyond March 31, 2002. The order was aimed at controlling vehicular emission level in the city.
The AAI notice letter to the airlines stated that following the view of additional solicitor general of India, as a government body the authority must abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court. “To avoid operational problem, that may be created because of immediate cancellation of issued passes and stoppage of issuing of passes to the coaches which are plying in the operational area at IGI airport, it has been decided to allow a time frame of three months i.e. upto February 15, 2006 for switching over to CNG mode,” said the AAI letter.
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