Union petroleum minister says Delhi could breathe easy only when it migrates all industrial units and vehicles to clean fuel.
New Delhi: Coal-based thermal power plants, not vehicles, are a major cause of air pollution in Delhi, Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Wednesday.
“The amount of pollution caused by a coal-based thermal power plant in Delhi in one day is equal to the amount of toxic air caused by vehicles for the entire year. Therefore, it is better to move to gas-based power plants for clean and green electricity,” he said.
Pradhan argued that Delhi can breathe easy only when it migrates all industrial units and vehicles to clean fuel usage.
Speaking at the launch of ‘IGL Smart Card’ for CNG customers in the National Capital Region, Pradhan took a dig at the Delhi government’s odd-even scheme of vehicles. “Come December and the government here will again think of banning vehicles in the city. Why can’t they operationalise the gas-based power facility in Bawana, which is ready for use? They will play with the lives of people using coal-based power for the sake of offering cheaper electricity,” he said.
The minister added that cheaper electricity should be available to those who cannot afford it and people who are rich and affluent should pay the market price. This would encourage the government to use gas to generate electricity and it would lead to a healthy environment, he argued.
Launched by Indraprastha Gas Limited, the prepaid smart card can be used for refilling by users of all kinds of CNG vehicles.
“The card will benefit the common man by saving their time in transactions at the CNG stations. Earlier it would take two-three minutes in completing one transaction. Now, with the use of this smart card, a customer can complete a transaction in 30 seconds,” added Pradhan.