Car exhausts can light up your future: It is possible, at least theoretically, to produce electric current using exhaust gases emitted by automobiles, if Ajay Sood and his student Shankar Ghosh are to be believed. The duo, physicists at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, has produced electricity by passing a jet of gas over a variety of materials. The current generated was miniscule but the experiment is a breakthrough as no fuel is burnt in the process. A report of the discovery made using nothing more than a bottle of compressed gas and low-cost equipment is to appear in the coming issue of Physical Review Letters, a prestigious journal of the American Physical Society. Sood and Ghosh have also applied for a patent.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 8/18/2004

Electric vehicles charge up for futuristic mode of transport: Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Company Ltd (RECC), a part of Maini Group, is all set to launch an electric 14-seater mini bus under the brand name Reva. The company's two seater electrical citi car Reva has already been on the roads for sometime now. Maini Group chairman Sudarshan Maini said to FE, "With stringent emission norms, the electric vehicle is definitely poised to be the major mode of transportation in our country in the future. Electric vehicles is one area where India is at par with the rest of the world."
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 9/1/2004

Easy on the oil, step on the gas: Americans merely display their disregard for the niceties of the English language when they talk of tanking up with 'gas' instead of 'petrol'. But soon, Indians may be doing the same. Not thanks to MacDonaldisation, but because Indian Oil Corporation has kickstarted talks with domestic vehicle makers to develop hydrogen engines for scooters, three-wheelers, cars and buses. Willing partners in this effort at innovation are Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and Maruti. Global corporations like Honda, Daimler Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and Toyota are already making hybrid cars, which run on fuel cells with on-board storage of hydrogen. Their performance is almost at par with petrol cars.
Source: The Financial Express, New Delhi, 8/25/2004

Government mulls multiple player entry in gas pipelines: It`s official now. The Petroleum ministry, in its revised draft natural gas pipeline policy, has proposed the entry of multiple players for setting up the natural gas pipeline infrastructure in the country. The caveat here is that the entities will have to seek authorisation for laying the pipelines from the government/regulator. A presentation on the revised draft gas pipeline policy, proposing the entry of multiple players for laying pipeline infrastructure, was made to the Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, by his ministry officials on July 28. Officials said the final policy blueprint is being given final touches and will be announced shortly.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/6/2004

MP seeks Aiyar`s intervention on national gas grid issue: Senior CPI(M) Member of Parliament Dipankar Mukherjee has sought Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar`s intervention in resolving the multiple entities issue pertaining to national gas grid. Taking into consideration the proposed modification of the draft gas pipeline policy, Mr Mukherjee, in a letter to Mr Aiyar, has said that the gas pipeline policy be firmed up with GAIL as the nodal agency for national gas grid to address the problem of regional imbalance, instead of allowing multiple entities to lay pipeline on commercial consideration alone.
Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi, 8/14/2004

GAIL outlines Rs 4,500 cr expansion: GAIL India Ltd is planning to invest Rs 4,500 crores for expanding its gas distribution nerwork to the esatern part of the country as part of its major development initiatives.
Source: The Asian Age, New Delhi, 8/13/2004

GAIL urges States to cut sales tax on natural gas: GAIL (India) Ltd has approached all the State Governments for reduction/exemption of sales taxes in a bid to make natural gas prices competitive. Currently, sales tax on natural gas is levied at 20 per cent on an ad valorem basis by most States. As a result, the tariffs for gas are close to equivalent to about $4.6 per million British thermal units (mmbtu). Gail, currently, sources its gas from Qatar`s Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Ltd (RasGas).
Source: Business Line, New Delhi,  8/3/2004

Delhi: Government turns heat on manufacturers: Plying on CNG cuts down your fuel cost to half as compared to petrol. Yet, the CNG movement hasn`t really caught on when it comes to private cars. Reason being, the various hurdles faced by car owners if they want to go in for conversion. Now the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has turned the heat on car manufacturers, stressing on their plans to introduce CNG dedicated cars. "Countries like Pakistan and Argentina have predominant numbers of cars running on CNG. Now, even China is going in for a major CNG programme," said Anumita Roy Chowdhury, co-ordinator of Right to Clean Air campaign with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 8/11/2004

Mumbai: City to have 50 more CNG stations by March: Fifty more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations are likely to be in place in Mumbai city and suburbs by the end of March 2005, say officials from Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), which distributes the gas in Mumbai. Three CNG stations will be set up this month itself.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai,  8/13/2004

Assam: US firm to produce CNG in State: Buoyed by success in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, C&L Engineering Inc, has drawn up a plan to explore the hydrocarbon sector in Assam. The US firm headed by an Assamese engineer, Dr Sashi Kumar Mozumdar will set up a hydrocarbon based plant in Duliajan with an investment of Rs 40 crore. The new plant -Asom Toral Prakritic Gas Company (Private ) Limited will produce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in two phases by using latest US technology in collaboration with Assam Gas Company Limited. Talking to this reporter here today, Sri Prasanna Kumar Mozumdar, managing director of the new plant informed that the phase-I will have a capacity of producing 1600 kg of CNG per day while the phase -II would produce 40,000 kg of LNG . "If everything goes smoothly we will be able to start construction work by next month for the first phase", he said.
Source: The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, 8/22/2004

Delhi: Highly inflammable - private school vans: Almost 90% of the private vans that ferry children to school use domestic LPG cylinders, instead of the government approved LPG kits. Using domestic LPG cylinders is illegal, and needless to say, dangerous. Realising that this situation could lead to another Kumbakonam, the city's transport department has decided on a drive to nab such violators, beginning September 1. 'We have written to schools in July to discourage use of LPG in vehicles ferrying children' said transport commissioner Rajiv Talwar.
Source: The Times of India, New Delhi, 8/26/2004

Ethanol-blended fuel in short supply: The ethanol-blended fuel programme in the southern States has hit a roadblock with sugar industries finding it more lucrative to supply ethanol for industrial and potable alcohol, according to sources.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi,  8/30/2004

AP decides to encourage ethanol plants: The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to promote establishment of 10 to 12 units of ethanol production plants that would use the sweet sorghum varieties developed by the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat). The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who visited Icrisat, said that there was lot of scope for production of ethanol from the sweet sorghum varieties developed by the institute. Hence, a decision was taken to encourage entrepreneurs to set up ethanol production plants in the State.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 8/4/2004

ICRISAT to promote sweet sorghum for production of ethanol: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is strengthening its collaboration with partners to promote sweet sorghum varieties, hybrids and technologies to extract alcohol from the crop. According to Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, the sweet sorghum varieties, hybrids and technologies developed by the institute hold high promise for the farmers of the semi-arid tropics as they can grow with less water. In addition to the grain, he said, the crop could be used to produce ethanol in a more environment-friendly manner compared to sugarcane. The ethanol could be used to blend with petrol and diesel for producing gasohol.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 8/13/2004

Sick sugar units urged to use sorghum to make ethanol: The Andhra Pradesh Government would take a proactive role in the revival of sick sugar units by encouraging them to use sweet sorghum for production of ethanol, according to the State Minister for Agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 8/30/2004

Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to aid greening of wastelands: The Karnataka State Land Use Board (SLUB) has chalked out a strategy to make use of wastelands to grow biofuel plantations with support from Sutra, the mechanical crew of the Indian Institute of Science. The strategy was drawn during a day-long workshop on 'Greening of Wastelands through Biofuel Plantations' held by the Board. The workshop attracted 400 farmers from across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh. Since its inception eight years ago, the Board has been focussing on producing vegetative non-edible oil, or biofuel, which can be used as an immediate substitute for diesel, for the benefit of the farmers.
Source: The New Indian Express, Bangalore,  8/12/2004

Sunflower oil to power future cars: Producing hydrogen from sunflower oil could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative by reducing pollutants while offering an abundant, low-cost and renewable resource. There has been a development that could lead to cleaner and more efficient hydrogen production for powering automobile fuel cells as well as homes, factories and offices. Researchers in England have found a promising method for producing hydrogen from sunflower oil. The development was described at the 228th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world`s largest scientific society.
Source: The Hindu, New Delhi, 9/2/2004

'Biofuel is need of the hour': The centre for Bharatiya Marketing Development (CBMD), a unit of Swadesh Jagran Foundation, organised a one-day seminar on 'Bio Diesel as Biofuel' in association with ASSOCHAM in Lucknow. Addressing the seminar, Minister for Land Reforms Om Prakash Singh asked scientists and entrepreneurs to go to rural areas to create awareness about biofuel.
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 8/21/2004

Oilseeds likely to benefit from boom in bio-diesel: As world interest in eco-friendly renewable sources of fuel expands rapidly, more oilseed production or vegetable oil consumption is going towards bio-diesel. This trend has implications for world vegetable oil production and prices in the coming years. Emulating the world`s largest bio-diesel producers and consumers — European Union and Brazil, several developing countries have ventured into bio-diesel production using indigenous plant material. While world production of oilseeds and palm oil is forecast to expand in 2004-05 to 379 million tonnes (mt) and 29.8 mt respectively, consumption too is forecast to grow.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 8/3/2004

Austrian bio-diesel unit to be set up near Kakinanda: An Austrian firm in association with Naturol Bioenergy Limited will set up integrated biodiesel plant near Kankinanda.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad,  8/7/2004

Gujarat Oleo Chem bags Rs 25-cr biodiesel order from IOC: In what could be a path-breaking private sector initiative in promoting biofuels, Gujarat Oleo Chem Ltd (GOCL), which has bagged an order for supply of biodiesel worth Rs 25 crore to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), delivered its first consignment to the latter. The significance of the development lays in the fact that for the first time in the country, a private company has successfully exploited the vegetable oil route to produce biodiesel for supply to a Government parastatal. GOCL is using castor oil as feedstock for production of biodiesel. Crude castor oil is refined and biodiesel is produced through the process of esterification and transesterification. Vegetable oil is a renewable source of energy; its production is sustainable and its use in automobile fuels is eco-friendly.
Source: Business Line, New Delhi, 8/4/2004

Bio-diesel role discussed: The Biotech Park in collaboration with the Council of Science and Technology, Uttar Pradesh, National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Lucknow Management Association held a bio-business meet on biodiesel in the auditorium of the Remote Sensing Application Centre (RSAC). The objective of the one-day meet was to apprise entrepreneurs of the potential of bio-diesel in the country and develop business of production of bio-diesel.
Source: The Pioneer, Lucknow, 8/11/2004

Kidwai launches bio-diesel mission: The Haryana Governor, Dr A.R. Kidwai, inaugurated the bio-diesel mission by planting a sapling of Jatropha curcas at the Centre for Research and Application in Plant Tissue Culture, Haryana Agriculture University, here on Thursday. Jatropha curcas is a plant which can yield oil in the form of bio-diesel and has been found suitable for its various favourable attributes.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 8/23/2004

Gujarat firm first in `green fuel`, commercialises bio-diesel: A new chapter to the country`s alternative energy resources was added on Saturday after an Ankleshwar-based firm released the first commercial consignment of bio-diesel to Indian Oil Company. With this, the firm, Gujarat Oelo Chem Limited will be the first Indian company to commercialise the production of bio-diesel from vegetable based feedstock.
The Times of India, Ahmedabad, 8/1/2004

Mumbai: Vehicle fitness tests to get tougher: In an effort to broaden the parameters for testing vehicles - especially for pollution emissions – and make the inspection system more transparent, the Regional Transport Office – (RTO) is planning to upgrade and mechanise its inspection systems. The Rs 12-crore upgradation is part of the environmental component of the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project, and would be the first of its kind in the country. The Maharashtra State Government has already given the green signal to the programme and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is implementing the mass transport project, is in the process of commissioning a preliminary feasibility and design study.
Source: The Times of India, Mumbai, 8/7/2004

Delhi bans 3-wheel goods vehicles: The Delhi government has issued an order to stop the registration of new three wheel goods carriers within city limits. This order, aimed at decongesting the city, will come into effect from September 1 this year.
Source: Business Standard, New Delhi, 8/19/2004

15-yr-old limit for vehicles in Gurgaon: Vehicles more than 15-years-old will no longer be registered in Gurgaon. This follows a Haryana government decision to ban registration of vehicles older than 15 years in the NCR towns of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bahadurgarh and Kundli. In a recent notification, the Haryana Transport Department has fixed the age of operation for various types of transport vehicles plying under different kinds of permits. Under this notification, the age of buses plying as educational institutional vehicles, buses plying as private service vehicles, three-wheelers and auto-rickshaws and goods-carriages (except those plying on national permits) has been fixed at 15 years.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/30/2004

Delhi: New road tax regime to take time: Road tax rates for registration of vehicles are not likely to change soon. It will take a few more months as Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf introduced a bill on the last day of the budget session to amend the Delhi Motor Vehicle Taxation Act to switch over from a weight-based tax system to a value-based one. The bill can now be passed only in the next session of the assembly. Introducing the bill, Haroon Yusuf said it provides for updating the Act to introduce a change in the system of one time road tax for non-transport vehicles.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 8/5/2004

Delhi: No plans to scrap new parking rates: NDMC: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has said that the new parking rates slated to be implemented next month onwards are here to stay. NDMC, PRO, Madan Thapliyal, said, ‘‘There is no rethinking happening. The matter may be discussed in the Council meeting at the end of the month. For now the rates will remain.’’ Last week the NDMC had announced its decision to revise parking tariff in 100 parking lots under its jurisdiction from September 1. The decision was to introduce hourly rate charges. The NDMC has decided to divide parking lots into three categories, A, B & C, and the rates have been fixed according to the demand for parking in the area.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/6/2004

Delhi: Ordinance likely on vehicle registration tax: With the introduction of an ad-valorem tax on registration of vehicles delayed because the Bill could not be passed in the Assembly's budget session, the Delhi government is considering bringing in an oridnance for the same. This will help the government introduce the tax proposal for non-transport vehicles with immediate effect. Transport Department officials say that it will take a minimum of six months for the Bill to become an Act and by that time the current financial year will be about to close.
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 8/11/2004

Delhi: Govt gives green signal to DMRC for phase II project: The Delhi government has, in principle given a go-ahead to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s proposal for the second phase of the Metro project. Following a presentation by the DMRC, the Delhi Cabinet asked the DMRC to submit a detailed report on the proposed second phase for final approval.
Source: The Statesman, New Delhi, 8/7/2004

Haryana gives nod to Delhi-Gurgaon Metro project: The Haryana Government has given its approval to the Metro rail project between Mehrauli, bordering Delhi, and IFFCCO chowk in Gurgaon. The State government is also seriously considering other alternatives for easing the flow of traffic, including roads linking Gurgaon to Vasant Kunj and Gurgaon. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, held a meeting here today with senior officers of the State government to ensure planned development of Gurgaon.Mr Chautala said that RITES would prepare a detailed feasibility report for the Metro Rail Project.
Source: The Tribune, New Delhi, 8/21/2004

Delhi: High-capacity bus set to roll: After the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit recently revived the High Capacity Bus System (HCBS) project, it now seems just a matter of days before work begins. The Ambedkar Nagar-ISBT corridor is where the pilot project will be implemented, initially on the stretch between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand. Once Delhi government’s Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) gives its nod — expected within days — the project will be wrapped up within eight months. In fact, two international experts — Dr Walter Hook, Executive Director of NGO Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), and Oscar Edmundo Diaz, Latin America Regional Director ITDP — are in New Delhi now to help IIT Delhi’s Transport Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) in working out the modalities. The duo have worked extensively on the HCBS in many cities round the world, developing nations in particular. They have also visited Hyderabad and Ahmedabad to study the viability of the system there.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/1/2004

Careless drivers cause colossal waste of fuel: The training programme held by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association for more than 25,000 drivers across the country reveal that at least 42 percent of the drivers over speed, 30 percent drive rash, 12 percent ride unnecessarily and 37 percent apply frequent sudden brakes.
Source: The New Indian Express, Hyderabad, 8/10/2004

Delhi: For old and infirm, capital's roads are a death-trap: AIIMS study: Safety of elderly citizens of the capital has been in sharp focus because of a series of murders that has exposed them as vulnerable targets. But, significantly, a five-year study conducted by AIIMS on unnatural deaths among the elderly has concluded that the most common cause was road accidents. The report - pidemiology of Injury Related Death in Elderly Persons: A Retrospective Study - showed that accidental deaths were highest in this group-71.7 percent of the total unnatural deaths. And 56.86 per cent of the total unnatural deaths was due to traffic accidents.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/11/2004

Goa Skybus set for crucial test-run: The Goa Skybus, a project intended to prove the feasibility of a novel mass transit system, is set for a crucial test-run. The project undertaken by the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL), will be operational on an 1.6-km-long track next month. The test track has been laid on a concrete bridge in Margao; electrically-driven coaches of the Skybus will run along its entire length. Built at a cost of Rs 50 crore, the system has been put up in five months despite delay in construction caused by heavy rains.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/16/2004

Pact clears the way for UP to Delhi buses: The Delhi government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Uttar Pradesh regarding inter-state buses. The lack of an agreement had been a major hurdle to commuters from UP regions, with buses being stopped by road transport authorities as both sides traded charges of ‘illegal travelling’. ‘‘This will now come to an end,’’ Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf said today while making a statement in the Assembly. The minister said as per the agreement, all bus services between Delhi and Noida, Greater Noida and upto six points in the Ghaziabad municipal area will be considered as ‘‘city services’’ and will operate only on CNG. The routes and the number of services will be decided between the two states.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/4/2004

Delhi Transport dept zooms into smart card zone: India is finally moving to the use of smart card-based driving licenses and vehicles registration certificates through computerization of regional transport offices. The software for this has been developed by the National Informatics Centre in consultation with the ministry of road transport and highways.
Source: The Economic Times, New Delhi,  8/16/2004

Delhi: 3 wheeler ban - HC notice to transport dept: The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Delhi government's Transport department following a petition by a three-wheeler goods carrier owner against a government's order of August 5, banning registration of three-wheeler goods carriers from September 1. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul issued the notice. The order, issued by Jt. CP Transport PR Meena, refuses registration to such goods vehicles running on any fuel - petrol, CNG, diesel, LPG. The petitioner alleged that the department was not empowered to take such action and it was infringing on his right to eke out a living. Refuting the Transport department's allegations that these vehicles move extremely slow and are a major source of congestion; the petitioner said that their vehicles move at 55 km per hour while the maximum speed limit is only 40 km per hour.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/22/2004

Delhi: SC angry over Government denying Bhure Lal post: The first Chairman of the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) Bhure Lal, instrumental in the introduction of CNG in Delhi, is paying for his tough stance against the Government. The Supreme Court today asked the Union Government to explain why nearly a year after his appointment as Member, UPSC, he has not been given that position. This was in response to an application filed by Harish Salve, amicus curiae in the CNG case. He pointed out the non-compliance of the apex court's order, saying that Bhure Lal should be given that position. The Union Government has been given a week to revert to the Court.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/28/2004

Only CNG buses to Delhi, Government tells Haryana: The Delhi government has asked Haryana to ensure that only CNG buses enter Delhi. The government's appeal is in accordance with the Supreme Court order that inter-city buses between Delhi and NCR towns should operate on CNG. Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf said: ''We have asked them to send CNG-run buses to the destinations in Delhi, apart from the ISBTs (inter state bus terminal).'' Haroon met the Haryana Transport Minister Ashok Kumar today and discussed transport-related issues between the two states.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi, 8/11/2004

Government plans to privatise vehicle fitness certificate: The Advisor to Chief Minister for Environment, (Pakistan), Noman Saigol, has issued instructions to EPA Sindh to make a proposal for privatisation of issuance of vehicle fitness certificate so that a fool proof mechanism could be put into practice for safety and clean environment. He was talking to officers of Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Sindh at a meeting, also attended by Director-General, EPA Sindh, Shafique Khoso and Director Iqbal Nafees Khan, Senior Scientific Officer S.M. Yahya and Assistant Director Mujtaba Baig.
Source: The Nation (Internet), Pakistan, 8/4/2004

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