Auto-rickshaw drivers demand more CNG refilling stations

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 20

Under the new directions issued by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), August 15 onwards, only CNG, LPG or the electric autos will be registered in the district. As per the recent proposal put forth by the board, in order to reduce pollution, the government had taken this step to reduce the use of petrol and diesel.

The PPCB examined the quality of air in various cities of the state from January to June. The air quality of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Bathinda and Mandi Gobindgarh failed to match the desired standard.

Officials said the orders would be implemented after reviewing the objections to this proposal.

However, the PPCB’s recommendation to prohibit registration of petrol and diesel operated auto-rickshaws has not gone down well with auto-rickshaw drivers. Union members claimed, amid scarcity of CNG pumps in the city, how would the ruling be successful.

Besides, price of CNG autos was higher than the existing fuel-operated three-wheelers, said Pritam Singh, head of the auto- rickshaw union. He further added that there was only one CNG station in the city.

A CNG auto-rickshaw driver Inderjit Singh said due to lack of availability of required number of CNG pumps, they had to limit their commuting routes and their daily wages had also decreased due to the unavailability of desired amount of fuel. Moreover, CNG fuel was available for only five days in a week, Singh added.

Last year, in the District Transport Office (DTO), registration of around 823 auto-rickshaws was done and out of it only 13 people had registered with the CNG operated auto-rickshaw. This year this figure has decreased even more. Until now, only 5 CNG autos were registered out of more than 400 autos.

Therefore, all the members of the union members said before the implementation of any such order, the PPCB should install more number of CNG pumps in the district and the cost of CNG auto- rickshaws should also be normalised.

Woes of auto-rickshaw drivers in the city

• There is only one CNG refilling station in the city. Due to lack of availability of required number of CNG pumps, the rickshaw drivers have to limit their commuting routes 
• The daily wages of the autorickshaw drivers have fallen due to the unavailability of desired amount of fuel. Moreover, CNG fuel is available for only five days in a week.