Delhi to be ''pollution free'' before Commonwealth Games: CM

New Delhi, Nov 7 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said her government is keen to make the capital a fully ''pollution-free city'' before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games 2010.

''It would lead to a healthier and comfortable environment in the capital city which is going to host an international sports event which would attract a large number of people from different countries,'' she said after inaugurating a day-long international conference on 'CNG-Averting Disaster'.

The Chief Minister said it was a long arduous effort but ''we finally succeeded in getting the cleanest transport fleet in the world''.

''In the last six years, all old commercial vehicles have been phased out and hundred thousand vehicles involved in public transport in Delhi have been put on clean CNG fuel which helped in substantial improvement in the ambient air quality of Delhi.'' For the Commonwealth Games, Rs 500 crore have been released to purchase over 1000 new CNG Low Floor Buses, Ms Dikshit said.

She also stressed the need for more CNG supply as her Government was going to finalise a policy which would facilitate the switchover of 40,000 Light Commercial Vehicles from Diesel to CNG.

The Chief Minister also expressed the hope that a workable policy would be in shape within the next two weeks and appealed to people to raise their voice against diesel-run cars.

''The number of such cars should be limited and no incentive offered on the purchase of such vehicles,'' she said.

The pollution level in Delhi also goes up due to the movement of diesel propelled vehicles from other states which pass through on their way to other states, she said and urged cooperation from all the states whose cities came under NCR.

Ms Dikshit stressed the need of commissioning of two peripheral expressways which would provide ''fast corridors to vehicles which are not otherwise supposed to enter Delhi.'' Stating that the neighbouring states must honour their commitment in making these peripheral expressways functional at the earliest, she said the delay was not due to Delhi as the national capital had been releasing its financial share for the projects.

To facilitate transportation and remove carbon emissions on account of traffic congestion, about 150 km of road were being widened, 1327 km strengthened and resurfaced, 175 km street scraped, and on a 325 km stretch, new energy efficient street lighting arranged, Ms Dikshit said.

UNI