Start operating buses on ULSD

Dr R K Pachauri, Director-General of TERI, has maintained that the Supreme Court order on converting the entire bus fleet in Delh to compressed natural gas (CNG) was no a practical suggestion. He met Nitika Bhardwaj recently for an interview to elaborate his views. You had stated that ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) would be a good alternative to compressed natural gas but the Central Pollution Control Board does not agree. What do you have to say about this? TERI still maintains that CNG is not the best option available owing to several reasons. In the first place, nobody is sure of its performance in prolonged driving hours and weather conditions in Delhi. Two, even in environmental terms, it is not the best of fuels as compared to ULSD that promises to be much cleaner fuel barring the fact that it releases oxides of nitrogen. Moreover, it requires creation of massive infrastructure. Obviously, meeting the right standards is crucial because it could, otherwise, lead to mishaps as was seen in the CNG case in east Delhi recently. The authorities are now working on specifications to ensure safety. Do you think that decision on CNG was implemented in a tearing hurry? Absolutely. The pace of implementation is neither practical nor sustainable. No trails have been carried out or any extensive analysis done before taking such a drastic step. The conversion into CNG should have been carried out at a small scale to observe its repercussions. No city in the world has gone for full-scale conversion into CNG. Things looked ugly in early April with the bus crisis. What could have been done to avert this situation? The only solution now is to immediately start operating buses on ULSD especially those not being converted into CNG. Those who talk of metro rails must understand that first, it is going to take time and second, it could relieve the burden partially. Delhi needs more buses And ULSD is the only answer to protect the environment by plying even more buses. Do you think that the process of conversion has been delayed unnecessarily? I don't know if it has been delayed. Truly speaking, the concept itself is faulty. How many CNG filling stations does Delhi require? I think the government version is that Delhi needs 140. I believe that this is a basic minimum number for Delhi, if not more. You seem completely opposed to CNG ? ? I am not saying that CNG is not a good fuel but we have to look at other aspects like massive operations. We should have tested every other alternative before zeroing in on CNG. The kind of testing and research carried out were barely adequate to be able to render technical advice. What are the other fuel options? ULSD, of course. You also have liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and propane which have displaced CNG around the world. In fact, we don't even need to go in for heavy operations as regards ULSD and it can be comfortably imported till refineries are ready to have it processed here. This would call for heavy investments, wouldn't it? Rough estimates show that it means investing a few hundred crores of rupees. But then, two refineries, one in the north and south apiece, can meet the needs of metros and other small cities. The same cannot be said of CNG. In fact, we don't have the capacity to create so many CNG filling stations even in Delhi. Moreover, the price of fuel would be fractionally higher than the normal "dirty diesel". All of Europe has switched over to ULSD. Interestingly, governments of some European countries have had it subsidised to dissuade people from using "dirty fuel". Clean fuel is fine for Delhi but then how about other cities which are as polluted? That is what bothering the think-tank. We are talking of solutions for cleaner air in Delhi, but what about the cities like Lucknow or Kanpur. Other cities also need clean air as much we do. Do you think a month is adequate for the Bhure Lal committee to recommend clean fuel? First of all, recommendations require adequate information followed by in-depth analysis. I don't know how the committee will manage to complete the task. I can only wish them luck.