Agra still waiting to go CNG
VIJAY UPADHYAY
The effect of emissions from diesel vehicles on marble is well-known. Apart from high sulphur content, the noxious fumes emitted by Diesel vehicles and generating sets also contains high columes of "Suspended Particulate Matter" (SPM) which causes "pitting" in the soft marble stone surface, both directly and by binding to the atmospheric moisture, forming acidic compounds, causing the yellowing and corrosion of the stone.
But the Mashelker Committee report has recommended only emission norms rather than fuel types as a means to combat pollution and in terms of pollution, there is no ideal fuel. Both CNG and diesel are harmful; CNG fuel is high on Carbon Monoxide & Methane emissions while Diesel is high on Sulphur & SPM. In the present circumstances, the ideal way out of this dilemma would be to use a "greener" fuel and that's what has been done in the form of CNG, though this way too, may not be easy.
Even as the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has offered to provide CNG to Agra among some other state metros of UP to completely metamorphose the public transport system of these cities from Diesel to CNG, conforming with the emission norms recommended by the Mashelker Committe, Agra is far from realizing this dream project with the Agra Development Authority (ADA) not ready to provide land at the spots marked by GAIL for the installation of CNG pumps.
Commenting on this attitude assumed by the ADA, Agra Divisional Commissioner & ADA chairman Dr. Ashok Kumar assured that he had met the GAIL authorities and other officials and sorted out the problem so that the city of Tajmahal could be provided with a memorable gift in the 350th year of the Taj, in the form of CNG. He said that though the introduction of CNG in Agra may face some initial opposition from the local transport companies and factory owners who are worried over the cost of this transition from Diesel to CNG as in the case of Delhi, it won't matter much in comparison to the advantages CNG has over conventional Diesel fuel.
(UNITED NEWS NETWORK)
Agra, 14 Nov. Ever since the then US president Bill Clinton expressed his concern over the effect of air pollution on the soft marble of the Tajmahal, tackling this growing monster has been a tough nut for the state government.
The effect of emissions from diesel vehicles on marble is well-known. Apart from high sulphur content, the noxious fumes emitted by Diesel vehicles and generating sets also contains high columes of "Suspended Particulate Matter" (SPM) which causes "pitting" in the soft marble stone surface, both directly and by binding to the atmospheric moisture, forming acidic compounds, causing the yellowing and corrosion of the stone.
Experts have long been trying to introduce a "greener" alternative to the poisounous Diesel fuel in the vehicles & industries and so far, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) seems to be the only commercially viable alternative available. Widely available in the country, the use of CNG in the public transport system alone could reduce the "visible" pollution to significantly low levels in Agra. While the use of CNG could cause a drop in the SPM rates in the city, in the long term, its use would also add up to the worldwide efforts towards combating "Global warming" and like Delhi, the city can eventually boast of "breathable air".
But the Mashelker Committee report has recommended only emission norms rather than fuel types as a means to combat pollution and in terms of pollution, there is no ideal fuel. Both CNG and diesel are harmful; CNG fuel is high on Carbon Monoxide & Methane emissions while Diesel is high on Sulphur & SPM. In the present circumstances, the ideal way out of this dilemma would be to use a "greener" fuel and that's what has been done in the form of CNG, though this way too, may not be easy.
Even as the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has offered to provide CNG to Agra among some other state metros of UP to completely metamorphose the public transport system of these cities from Diesel to CNG, conforming with the emission norms recommended by the Mashelker Committe, Agra is far from realizing this dream project with the Agra Development Authority (ADA) not ready to provide land at the spots marked by GAIL for the installation of CNG pumps.
Out of the nine spots marked by the GAIL officials, so far, the ADA has agreed to provide land for just one pump following which, the GAIL officials are now becoming restless and are threatening to pull out if the project is unnecessarily delayed any further by the uncooperative attitude of the Agra Development Authority.
Commenting on this attitude assumed by the ADA, Agra Divisional Commissioner & ADA chairman Dr. Ashok Kumar assured that he had met the GAIL authorities and other officials and sorted out the problem so that the city of Tajmahal could be provided with a memorable gift in the 350th year of the Taj, in the form of CNG. He said that though the introduction of CNG in Agra may face some initial opposition from the local transport companies and factory owners who are worried over the cost of this transition from Diesel to CNG as in the case of Delhi, it won't matter much in comparison to the advantages CNG has over conventional Diesel fuel.
(UNITED NEWS NETWORK)
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