Karnataka HC Notice to State Government on CNG/ LPG Buses in Bengaluru
BANGALURU :The High Court on Friday issued notice to different departments of the state government in response to a petition seeking directions to convert all buses plying in the city to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) within a time frame.
Vinay ShivanandNaik, a city-based advocate has sought directions to ensure that all buses plying in and/or passing through the city of Bengaluru be converted to CNG/LPG.
Naik stated that the level of air pollution in Bengaluru has been increasing at an alarming rate for over one and one half decades. Research by scientists at Tel Aviv University on pollution trends for 189 mega cities, by analysing data of eight years from three of NASA’s high-tech aerosol monitoring satellites, shows Bengaluru experienced a 34 percent increase in aerosol concentration (air pollution) from 2002 to 2010.
The petitioner also said that 36 per cent of Bengaluru’s children are already experiencing significant health problems and 84 per cent have affected lung capacity due to air pollution. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice B Manohar issued notices to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, KSRTC, BMTC, North-West KSRTC and North-East KSRTC.